Trade Port worker strike ending-Deep Dive

Throughout the past couple weeks, many East Coasts ports have been rapidly closing, with port workers going on strike. The Union issued a statement claiming there were many “issues” with the pay scale for workers, but the over 50,000 port workers working East Coast ports, expressed confusion and displeasure with the strike. The strike has been rumored to a be political move riddled with corruption, but no political motives have been absolutely proven in regard to the actions of the small and often politically outspoken Union. Members of the International Longshoremen’s Association, a union representing over 50,000 members covered under the contract with the United States Maritime Alliance, were back working early Friday after the two sides reached an agreement on the key dispute in the strike that started early Tuesday – the scale of wage increases.

The work stoppage had threatened to disrupt supply chains, causing shortages of some consumer goods and supplies needed to keep US factories running. It also temporarily cut off the flow of many American exports, putting overseas sales at risk for some US businesses.

But relatively little damage was done, with the strike lasting only three days, especially since many shippers had rushed to move their goods through the ports ahead of the 12:01 am Tuesday start of the strike, a deadline that had been known for months. The maritime alliance, which operates under the acronym USMX, agreed to raises of $4 an hour for the union members on top of the current base pay of $39 an hour, an immediate raise of just more than 10%, according to a person familiar with the deal. Then union members will get additional $4-per-hour raises every year during the life of the six-year tentative deal. That will raise pay by a total of $24 an hour during the life of the contract, or by 62% in total.