International Longshoremen’s Association suspends strike following wage agreement

October 4, 2024

The International Longshoremen’s Association (I.L.A.) has agreed to suspend its strike, which had shut down major ports on the East and Gulf Coasts. This decision came after port employers, represented by the United States Maritime Alliance, offered a significant wage increase.

The strike began on Tuesday and posed a potential threat to the economy just five weeks before national elections. Employers have proposed a 62% wage increase over a new six-year contract, a substantial improvement from their initial offer. The I.L.A. has reached a tentative agreement on wages and will extend the current contract until January 15. Negotiations on other issues will continue.

The agreement followed pressure from the White House to resolve the strike. The wage increase is seen as a victory for the I.L.A. and its president, Harold J. Daggett. The union’s 45,000 members will return to work while negotiations on remaining issues proceed.