Striking dockworkers and port employers reached a tentative agreement Thursday that will end the work stoppage, after the strike halted about half of the ocean shipping conducted by the U.S and raised concerns of potential economic shocks.
The strike began Tuesday. (Photo by MARK FELIX/AFP /AFP via Getty Images)
The tentative agreement includes a 62% wage increase over six years and means striking workers will return to work Friday, four days after they began their strike, according to The Wall Street Journal.
An expired contract between striking dockworkers and their employers will be extended through Jan. 15, 2025, Politico reported, noting the strike’s end is a relief for Democrats who feared losing union support ahead of the election next month.
The matter of automation in dock work is still up for negotiation despite the tentative agreement, the Journal reported, as workers remain concerned about automation resulting in large layoffs and fewer jobs for humans.
The International Longshoremen’s Association represents the 45,000 striking workers and confirmed the end of the strike in a statement.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.