US President Joe Biden has welcomed the agreement reached by US dockworkers and port operators to end a three-day strike that had shut down shipping on the east and Gulf coasts of the United States. The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the US Maritime Alliance announced a tentative agreement on wages, which will extend their master contract until January 15 of next year to further negotiate outstanding issues.
The strike, which began on Tuesday, involved 45,000 port workers who were demanding higher pay and protesting the automation of tasks at ports from Maine to Texas. The strike raised concerns about potential shortages during the peak holiday shopping season at 36 ports that handle half of the cargo in the US.
At least 45 container vessels were anchored outside the strike-hit ports by Wednesday, up from just three before the strike began, highlighting the disruption caused by the labor action. The tentative agreement announced on Thursday includes a wage hike of around 62 percent over six years, with the union originally seeking a 77 percent raise and the employer group offering nearly 50 percent.
President Biden congratulated the dockworkers for their sacrifice during the COVID-19 pandemic and praised the port operators and carriers for reaching an agreement. The president described the agreement as critical progress towards a strong contract for the dockworkers, emphasizing the importance of keeping the ports open and functioning efficiently.
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