Dockworkers on the East and Gulf Coasts have voted to accept a new labor contract, bringing an end to labor disputes that had threatened to disrupt U.S. trade. The International Longshoremen’s Association (I.L.A.), representing the dockworkers, announced that nearly 99 percent of its members supported the agreement. The contract includes a 62 percent wage increase over six years and job guarantees tied to the introduction of automation technologies.
The deal was finalized after a brief strike in October, marking the first full-scale walkout since 1977. The resolution followed negotiations involving interventions from two U.S. presidents. Biden administration officials urged the United States Maritime Alliance, representing employers, to improve wage offers, ending the strike and restarting talks. Former President Donald J. Trump also expressed support for the union, aligning with their stance against excessive automation.
Harold J. Daggett, president of the I.L.A., praised the agreement as an “incredible contract package.” Labor experts noted that the union’s decision to strike and its political alliances strengthened its negotiating position. William Brucher, an assistant professor at Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations, highlighted that the deal was achieved through demonstrating both economic and political influence.
All 41 members of the Maritime Alliance, which includes port operators and shipping companies, approved the contract covering approximately 25,000 longshoremen. Hourly wages will rise to $63 by 2029, up from the current $39, aligning closely with West Coast dockworkers’ pay. With overtime and night-shift premiums, annual earnings can exceed $200,000.
The new contract restricts fully autonomous machinery but allows certain semi-automated cranes for tasks like stacking containers. Employers must assign at least one worker per crane, ensuring job security despite technological advancements. — news from The New York Times