Dockworkers Resume Duties After Tentative Wage Deal, Strike Suspended Until January

Approximately 45,000 members of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) are back at work after suspending their strike until at least January 15, 2025.

The 3-day strike, which began on Tuesday, was suspended after the ILA reached a “tentative agreement on wages” with the U.S. Maritime Alliance, according to a joint statement from both parties on Thursday evening. While it provided no details on what that agreement looks like, the statement does say that the master contract, which expired on September 30, will be extended until January 15 to facilitate a return to work for the union members.

President Joe Biden, who resisted calls to invoke the Taft-Hartley Act to force the striking workers back to their posts, welcomed news of the agreement amid reports that senior administration officials played a key role in getting the parties to agree on ending the work stoppage.

“I congratulate the dockworkers from the ILA, who deserve a strong contract after sacrificing so much to keep our ports open during the pandemic,” Mr. Biden said. “I applaud the port operators and carriers who are members of the US Maritime Alliance for working hard and putting a strong offer on the table."