In the United States, the dockers’ strike that threatened Kamala Harris is (already) ending

UNITED STATES – American dockworkers will return to work after three days of strike, the union and employers announced Thursday in a joint statement, while the blockade of ports in the United States threatened to cause shortages and fuel inflation in one month before the presidential election.

“From now on, all ongoing actions will cease and all positions covered by the framework contract will resume”indicate in a joint press release the dockers’ union (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX), which represents their employers.

They declare that they have “reached an agreement in principle on salaries”without further details. But, according to the Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the matter, employers proposed a 62% wage increase over six years, which was accepted by the union.

Democrats relieved (for now)

However, the two parties will have to resume discussions, because they “agreed to extend the framework contract until January 15, 2025 in order to return to the negotiating table to negotiate all other outstanding issues”.

“They have the next 90 days to put everything together”Joe Biden told reporters Thursday evening, back at the White House. The American president had, shortly before, welcomed this agreement in a press release, which will make it possible to “reopen East Coast and Gulf ports”et “represents crucial progress towards a solid contract”.

He also thanked “union workers, transporters and port operators who are acting with patriotism to reopen our ports and ensure the availability of essential supplies for recovery and rebuilding following Hurricane Helene”.

This quick resolution is a big relief for Democrats. Inflation problems one month before the election, which is very close, could have played a very bad turn on Kamala Harris who already does not have the confidence of voters regarding the economy. Unlike Donald Trump.

45,000 dockers were on strike

The talks, which began in May, were suspended for several weeks and then reactivated hours before the previous contract expired Monday evening.

The Alliance had raised its offer, proposing in particular a salary increase of 50% over the duration of the agreement, but which had been rejected by the union. He initially demanded 77%, according to American media, and notably calls for more protections against job losses linked to automation.

Some 45,000 members of the dockworkers’ union (ILA) have been on strike since Tuesday in 36 ports of the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) on the East Coast and the Gulf of Mexico, for lack of agreement on a new social agreement six years old. This averages over $2.1 billion in business value per day, according to multiple sources.

Also see on Le HuffPost :