What happened
The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), the union representing some 45,000 striking dockworkers at East Coast and Gulf ports, suspended its three-day walkout Thursday night after the U.S. Maritime Alliance, which represents ports and shipping companies, sweetened its wage offer. The tentative deal — reportedly a 62% hourly pay increase over six years — extended the recently expired contract to Jan. 15. The 36 ports that closed Monday night, from Maine to Texas, will start reopening today.
Who said what
Biden had rejected pressure from Republican lawmakers and business trade groups to force the union back to work. But senior White House officials reportedly worked behind the scenes to nudge the shipping companies to up their offer from a 50% raise and urge the ILA to accept less than its original ask of 77%.
The settlement is a “big plus” for Biden and also Vice President Kamala Harris as the presidential election approaches, The Associated Press said. It pushed any “potential shortages” and resulting inflation past the November vote, without crossing union workers. Economists and big retailers didn’t expect much disruption from this short of a strike.
What next?
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