Washington., Port workers in the United States ended a three-day strike by reaching an “agreement in principle” on wages and an extension of the agreement this Thursday, the union and employers announced in a joint statement.
The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) had begun the strike early on Tuesday after negotiations with the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX), which represents shipping companies and terminal operators, reached an impasse.
The strike, in which 45 thousand workers participated according to the ILA, stopped the operation of 36 ports in the country through which a wide range of merchandise passes, from food to electronic products, weeks before the presidential elections.
This Thursday night, both parties announced that they “reached an agreement in principle on salaries and agreed to extend the framework contract until January 15, 2025, in order to return to the negotiating table to discuss all other issues.” earrings”.
“Effective immediately, all ongoing actions will cease,” they said.
The statement does not detail the terms of the agreement, but The Wall Street Journal reported that USMX proposed a salary increase of 62 percent over six years, which allowed the pact to be closed, according to statements from close sources.
This strike was the first since 1977, after negotiations stalled over union demands for a significant wage hike and protection against automation-related job losses.
President Joe Biden, who had refused to intervene in the negotiations, citing respect for collective bargaining rights, celebrated the suspension of the strike late on Thursday.
“I want to thank union workers, shippers and port operators for acting patriotically to reopen our ports and ensure the availability of essential supplies for recovery and reconstruction following Hurricane Helene,” he said in a statement.
Outside the White House, the president added: “They have the next 90 days, they are going to solve everything.”
The former Republican president and candidate for the White House in the November elections, Donald Trump, had blamed Biden for the crisis on Tuesday: “He should have reached an agreement,” he accused.
Crisis averted
Analysts had warned that a prolonged strike could be a serious setback for the US economy, potentially causing shortages of some items and raising prices at a time when inflation has been moderating.
Oxford Economics estimated that the port strike would reduce US gross domestic product (GDP) by between $4.5 billion and $7.5 billion a week, and that the global impact would depend on its duration.
However, Capital Economics deemed fears about the economic impact of the shutdown “overblown,” in part because recent supply chain disruptions have made companies more aware of the need to take precautionary measures.
The strike had begun at a politically delicate moment, almost a month before the US presidential elections, but this provisional agreement relieves the pressure.
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