After three days of strikes at several ports on the US East Coast, which raised the threat of shortages and price increases, US dockworkers will quickly return to work thanks to the signing of an agreement on Thursday, October 3.
The Longshoremen’s Union (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX), which represents their employers, “We have reached an agreement in principle on salaries and have agreed to extend the framework contract until January 15, 2025 to return to the negotiating table to negotiate all other pending issues”says a joint press release.
So, “From now on all ongoing actions will cease and all positions covered by the framework contract will be resumed”is specified. Therefore, the two sides will have to meet again to discuss in January.
The press release did not provide details on the terms of the salary agreement. But, according to Wall Street JournalAccording to people familiar with the matter, the businessmen proposed a salary increase of 62% in six years, which allowed this agreement.
Joe Biden welcomes agreement
US President Joe Biden welcomed this agreement that will allow “reopen East and Gulf Coast ports”and who “represents crucial progress towards a solid contract”.
“I want to thank the union workers, shippers and port operators who are acting with patriotism to reopen our ports and ensure the availability of essential supplies for recovery and reconstruction after Hurricane Helene”he added. Joe Biden refused to intervene and the White House spokesman considered that“It is time for the USMX to negotiate a fair agreement with port workers that reflects their important contribution to our economic recovery”.
Former President Donald Trump, who is seeking a new term, estimated in Milwaukee that Joe Biden “They should have reached an agreement between themselves” and pointed out that the dockworkers represented “the living force” of the country.
Economic results that have jumped for transporters
Some 45,000 members of the longshore workers union (ILA) have been on strike since Tuesday in thirty-six ports of the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) on the East Coast and the Gulf of Mexico, due to lack of agreement on a new agreement of six years. year social agreement. In reality, this agreement only affects 25,000 union members who work in the container and vehicle import/export terminals of fourteen major ports (including Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Savannah, Miami, Tampa, Houston).
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The Minister of Transportation, Pete Buttigieg, urged the two parties this Wednesday to reach an agreement and reopen the blocked ports in the United States, considering that their positions are not correct. “not so distant economically”and highlighting that there was much to do after the devastating passage of Hurricane Helene through the south of the country. It also reported that ocean carriers saw their bottom lines increase by around 350% in ten years, while dock workers’ wages increased by only 15% over the same period.
Negotiations, which began in May, were suspended for several weeks and reactivated just hours before the previous contract expired on Monday night. The Alliance had raised its offer, proposing in particular a 50% salary increase over the duration of the agreement, but it was rejected by the union. According to American media, it initially demanded 77% and, in particular, calls for more protection against job losses related to automation.
