Dockworkers Pause Strike for More Talks

In a surprising move, the union representing dockworkers at East and Gulf coast ports has decided to pause their three-day strike until January 15. This decision comes after both sides reached a tentative agreement on wages, with the offer going up from 50% over six years to 62%. The strike was initially sparked by disagreements over pay and job automation, right at the peak of the holiday shopping season. With this pause, stores should be able to keep their shelves stocked for now. President Biden praised both sides for being willing to negotiate. He believes that collective bargaining is key to building a stronger economy. The dockworkers will continue working under their old contract until January 15, when they'll vote on the new one.Thomas Kohler, who teaches labor law at Boston College, thinks this pause means both sides are close to a final deal. He believes they just need more time to work out the details. Industry experts say that even if there is another short strike, it shouldn't cause major problems in the supply chain. The White House played a role in this agreement too. They met with foreign shipping companies and encouraged them to make a higher wage offer to avoid making Hurricane Helene recovery worse.