Container traffic from Maine to Texas was stopped on Tuesday as members of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) staged walkouts at 14 major ports along the east and Gulf coasts.
The union reports that it has struck a provisional pay agreement and that it will resume work on Friday until January 15th, at which point it will reconvene to address “all other outstanding issues” at the bargaining table.
The closure was the first of its kind in nearly 50 years, and it raised the possibility of pandemonium in the midst of the hectic holiday shopping season and the impending presidential election.
“With immediate effect, all ongoing job actions will end, and all work covered by the Master will be completed.”
According to News, the proposed agreement would increase pay by 62% over the following six years.
However, discussions will go on over a number of unresolved matters, such as automation.
The union had demanded a salary increase of 77%, but USMX had already raised its offer of a pay increase to over 50%.
