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WASHINGTON — A major union for U.S. dockworkers and the United States Maritime Alliance agreed on Thursday to a tentative deal on wages and have extended their existing contract through Jan. 15 to provide time to negotiate a new contract.
The move ends a strike that had snarled East Coast and Gulf Coast ports since the beginning of the week and threatened U.S. supply of fruits, automobiles and other goods.
“The International Longshoremen’s Association and the United States Maritime Alliance, Ltd. have reached a tentative agreement on wages and have agreed to extend the Master Contract until January 15, 2025 to return to the bargaining table to negotiate all other outstanding issues,” The ILA and the the USMX said in a joint statement.
The National Retail Federation released the following statement from NRF president and CEO Matthew Shay:
“The decision to end the current strike and allow the East and Gulf coast ports to reopen is good news for the nation’s economy. It is critically important that the International Longshoremen’s Association and United States Maritime Alliance work diligently and in good faith to reach a fair, final agreement before the extension expires. The sooner they reach a deal, the better for all American families.”
On Wednesday, NRF led a coalition of nearly 300 industry trade associations in sending a letter to President Biden calling on him to use “any and all authority” to end the strike.
As the leading authority and voice for retail, NRF will continue to advocate for policies and solutions that ensure supply chain resiliency.
