And just like that the strike ended. At least for now.
The 47,000 members of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), who have been on strike since Tuesday, will reportedly return to work on Friday after reaching a tentative agreement. CNN. The news organization, citing two anonymous sources, said that while “a final agreement on the full contract has not yet been reached,” there was a “tentative agreement” on wages.
The strike, which affected 36 ports on the East Coast and Gulf Coast, was sparked over terms and conditions, both on pay and the role of automation in international shipping. There were also significant concerns that a prolonged strike could affect the availability of consumer goods in the United States. Workers are walking along the picket line holding placards that read “Automation threatens our future: Stand with ILA” and “Machines don’t feed your family: Support.” This is ILA. ”
The interim agreement, which must be ratified by union members, has also been reported by unions. Associated Presswill only suspend the strike until January 15th. The union reached a tentative agreement with the American Maritime Alliance, which represents shipping lines, terminal operators and port authorities.
The deal will allow people to return to work while a six-year long-term contract, which includes a temporary 62% pay increase, is negotiated. Reuters. The union called for a 77% increase, while the Maritime Union proposed a 50% increase.
Business owners are angry at the White House and are calling on President Joe Biden to invoke the 1947 Taft-Hartley Act, which allows presidents to order workers back to work. But Biden declined to use that authority, instead urging the two countries to work together to keep supplies flowing in the wake of Hurricane Helen.
“This natural disaster is incredibly significant,” Biden said Wednesday, according to the newspaper. Associated Press. “And on top of that, we definitely want to avoid the human disaster of what’s happening at the port.”
Gov. Ron DeSantis threatened to call off the strike on Thursday, calling the workers’ actions “unacceptable” and activating hurricane relief efforts.
“At my direction, the Florida National Guard and the Florida National Guard are being dispatched to critical affected ports to maintain order and operations that would otherwise be closed during this disruption, if possible,” DeSantis said in a statement. We will restart it,” he said. NBC6 in South Florida.
This strike is controversial, to say the least. ILA President Harold J. Daggett complained Wednesday that he has received death threats and was upset that some news outlets were reporting personal details about his life.
“The New York Post published an aerial photo of his New Jersey home this week, including his address in an article,” the union said in a statement. press release. “They printed other details of his private life, full of false accusations against him, with the sole purpose of destroying his character and slandering his 68-year ILA career, and that they had new relationships with ILA members. It was intended to weaken his ability to negotiate a master contract.”
