East Coast Ports: Deal Made Before Strike Hits

A major strike at ports along the East and Gulf Coasts was narrowly avoided this week. The International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) managed to reach a tentative deal on a new contract, which still needs to be approved by the union's members. The agreement comes just before a planned strike on January 16. Both parties are happy with the deal, saying it protects current jobs and improves port efficiency with the help of new technology. Automation was a big concern for workers, who thought their jobs might be at risk. But the new contract promises that any new technology introduced will also create new jobs for the union members. This isn't the first time these sides have had to negotiate – last October, they reached a deal on wages after a brief strike. Negotiations have been ongoing, with the most recent talks happening on Tuesday. The details of the new deal are not public, but it's believed that a compromise was reached on the use of automated technology in ports. President-elect Donald Trump has shown support for ILA workers, stating that foreign-owned shipping companies should invest more in U. S. dock workers instead of machinery.