The union representing East Coast and Gulf Coast dockworkers and the U.S. Maritime Alliance reached a tentative contract agreement Wednesday, just days before the Jan. 15 strike deadline.

In a joint statement, the International Longshoremen’s Association and the USMX said the deal answers many of the concerns of rank-and-file dockworkers around the country.

While the specifications of the deal have not yet been disclosed, the parties said the agreement offers important concessions on automation.

“This is a win-win agreement that creates ILA jobs, supports American consumers and businesses, and keeps the American economy the key hub of the global marketplace,” the joint statement reads.

Some U.S. ports have already praised the efforts of the negotiators, breathing a sigh of relief now that a strike has been avoided. 

“We congratulate the International Longshoremen’s Association and the United States Maritime Alliance on reaching a tentative agreement and avoiding a work stoppage,” the Port of Baltimore said in a statement. “The port industry is one of our nation’s leading job generators and is critically important to our national supply chain. This is tremendous news for all of us in the maritime industry and a great start to the new year.”

The union has agreed to continue operating under the current contract until a ratification vote is held.

Wednesday’s tentative agreement halts, at least for now, any chance of a massive work stoppage at U.S. ports. In Oct. 2024, the union launched a three-day strike, leading to massive delays at 36 U.S. ports on the East and Gulf coasts.

The union eventually agreed to call off the strike after USMX agreed to a 62% wage increase over six years. However, the two parties could not agree on automation, allowing contract talks to continue until Jan. 15.

Automation has been the key issue for dockworkers, who see automated cranes as a threat to their job security. USMX leaders on the other hand see automation as a way to save time and money.

• Vaughn Cockayne can be reached at vcockayne@washingtontimes.com.