The union representing thousands of dockworkers in the U.S. has agreed to pause its strike while they continue negotiations, according to BBC. Dockworkers, part of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), stopped work at 14 major ports along the East and Gulf coasts from Maine to Texas earlier this week. This strike caused shipping traffic to come to a halt.
On Friday, the union announced it would resume work until January 15, when they’ll return to the negotiation table to sort out remaining issues. They’ve made progress on wages, with an agreement to raise pay by 62% over six years, but other topics like automation still need to be discussed, the BBC reported.
This was the first major port shutdown in nearly 50 years and raised concerns about its impact on the busy holiday shopping season and the upcoming presidential election. The ILA strike could have caused significant chaos, but now port operations will return to normal for a few months, according to the BBC.
The U.S. President, Joe Biden, welcomed the tentative agreement, saying it’s an important step towards securing a solid contract for dockworkers who worked hard to keep ports open during the pandemic. He also praised port operators and carriers for their efforts to reach an agreement, according to the BBC.
Many businesses feared the strike would last longer and disrupt global trade, but the decision to suspend it brought relief to retailers. Companies were preparing for possible supply shortages, and consumers had started stocking up on essential items like baby formula and toilet paper.
The ILA has around 47,000 active members and is asking for a $5 increase in hourly wages each year of the contract. They also want protection from automation, which is a key concern, the BBC noted.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn8jxnn76qwo