ORLANDO, Fla. — The union representing 45,000 striking U.S. dockworkers at East and Gulf coast ports has reached a deal to suspend a three-day strike until Jan. 15 to provide time to negotiate a new contract.
The union, the International Longshoremen’s Association, is to resume working immediately. Both sides also reached agreement on wages, but no details were given, according to a joint statement from the ports and union Thursday night.
The union went on strike early Tuesday after its contract expired in a dispute over pay and the automation of tasks at the ports from Maine to Texas. The strike came at the peak of the holiday shopping season at 36 ports that handle about half the cargo from ships coming into and out of the United States.
The walkout raised the risk of shortages of goods on store shelves if it lasted more than a few weeks. But most retailers had stocked up or shipped items early in anticipation of the work stoppage.
The strike came at the peak of the holiday shopping season at 36 ports that handle about half of the cargo from ships coming into and out of the United States.
It raised the risk of shortages of goods on store shelves if it lasted more than a few weeks. But most retailers had stocked up or shipped items early in anticipation of the work stoppage.
Port Strike Hundreds of longshoremen strike together outside of the Virginia International Gateway in Portsmouth, Va., Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (Billy Schuerman/The Virginian-Pilot via AP) (Billy Schuerman/AP)
Longshoreman Strike International Longshoreman's Association President, Harold J. Daggett speaks to union workers at the Port Newark/Elizabeth-Port Authority Marine Terminal complex on Tuesday Oct. 1, 2024 in New Jersey. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah) (Stefan Jeremiah/AP)
Port Strike Longshoremen pose for a photo while picketing at Bayport Terminal on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Annie Mulligan) (Annie Mulligan/AP)
Port Strike Striking Philadelphia longshoreman picket outside the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal Port, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024.(AP Photo/Ryan Collerd) (Ryan Collerd/AP)
Port Strike Longshoremen strike at midnight at Bayport Terminal on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Annie Mulligan) (Annie Mulligan/AP)
Port Strike Third generation longshoreman Ray Bailey Jr. trustee of ILA Local 1291 encourages picketers outside the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal Port, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024.(AP Photo/Ryan Collerd) (Ryan Collerd/AP)
Port Strike Striking Philadelphia longshoreman picket outside the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal Port, Tuesday, Oct. 01, 2024.(AP Photo/Ryan Collerd) (Ryan Collerd/AP)
Port Strike Hundreds of longshoremen strike together outside of the Virginia International Gateway in Portsmouth, Va., Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (Billy Schuerman/The Virginian-Pilot via AP) (Billy Schuerman/AP)
Port Strike Longshoremen strike at midnight at Bayport Terminal on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Annie Mulligan) (Annie Mulligan/AP)
Port Strike Longshoremen strike at midnight at Bayport Terminal on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Annie Mulligan) (Annie Mulligan/AP)
Port Strike Hundreds of longshoremen strike together outside of the Virginia International Gateway in Portsmouth, Va., Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (Billy Schuerman/The Virginian-Pilot via AP) (Billy Schuerman/AP)
Port Strike Longshoremen Meikysha Wright and others strike together outside of the Virginia International Gateway in Portsmouth, Va., Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (Billy Schuerman/The Virginian-Pilot via AP) (Billy Schuerman/AP)
Port Strike Longshoremen strike at midnight at Bayport Terminal on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Annie Mulligan) (Annie Mulligan/AP)
Port Strike Hundreds of longshoremen strike together outside of the Virginia International Gateway in Portsmouth, Va., Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (Billy Schuerman/The Virginian-Pilot via AP) (Billy Schuerman/AP)
Port Strike Boise Butler, president of ILA Local 1291, speaks to the press outside the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal Port in Philadelphia, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ryan Collerd) (Ryan Collerd/AP)
Port Strike Philadelphia longshoremen hang the flag of the International Longshoremen's Association on a fence outside the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal Port, preparing to strike, as their contract runs out at midnight, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Ryan Collerd) (Ryan Collerd/AP)
Port Strike Boise Butler, president of ILA Local 1291, speaks to the press outside the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal Port in Philadelphia, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ryan Collerd) (Ryan Collerd/AP)
Port Strike Philadelphia longshoremen assembled outside the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal Port begin to strike as their contract runs out at midnight, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ryan Collerd) (Ryan Collerd/AP)
Port Strike Philadelphia longshoremen assembled outside the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal Port begin to strike as their contract runs out at midnight, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ryan Collerd) (Ryan Collerd/AP)
Port Strike Boise Butler, president of Local 1291, chants along with his fellow longshoremen outside the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal Port in Philadelphia, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ryan Collerd) (Ryan Collerd/AP)
Port Strike Boise Butler, president of ILA Local 1291, speaks to the press outside the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal Port in Philadelphia, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ryan Collerd) (Ryan Collerd/AP)
Port Strike The International Longshoremen’s Association flag and an American flag fly together outside the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal Port as workers prepare to strike as their contract runs out at midnight, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Ryan Collerd) (Ryan Collerd/AP)
Port Strike Boise Butler, president of Local 1291, with an American flag on his wheelchair, pickets with his fellow longshoremen outside the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal Port in Philadelphia, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ryan Collerd) (Ryan Collerd/AP)
Port Strike Striking Philadelphia longshoremen picket outside the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal Port, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ryan Collerd) (Ryan Collerd/AP)
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