Port workers on the East and Gulf coasts agree to end their strikes

Many ports along the East and Gulf coasts were shut down, threatening the country’s supply chains, after unionized port workers went on strike on Tuesday. But those workers will return to work after reaching a tentative agreement on wages with the group representing port employers.

As part of the agreement on wages, the United States Maritime Alliance has offered to up wages by 62 percent over a six-year contract, The New York Times reports. The two groups still have other issues to negotiate, and they have agreed to extend the “Master Contract” until January 15th, 2025.

The International Longshoremen’s Association, which represents the workers, and the United States Maritime Alliance, which represents their employers, shared a joint statement about the agreement Thursday evening:

The International Longshoremen’s Association and the United States Maritime Alliance, Ltd. have reached a tentative agreement on wages and have agreed to extend the Master Contract until January 15, 2025 to return to the bargaining table to negotiate all other outstanding issues. Effective immediately, all current job actions will cease and all work covered by the Master Contract will resume.