Dockworker Strike Suspended, MD Ports Revving Up Again

BALTIMORE, MD — They’re going back to work – for now.

A massive dockworker strike that shut down cargo ports across the East Coast and the Gulf Coast earlier this week has been suspended, with workers agreeing to return to their jobs on Friday as contract negotiations continue.

The International Longshoremen’s Association has been trying to hammer out a new work contract with the U.S. Maritime Alliance, which represents terminal operators and shipping lines. The major sticking points have included salaries and automation at the port, which workers claim will put their jobs in jeopardy.

Both sides have been posting updates on their websites. Read the ILA’s posts here, and the USMX’s posts here.

Longshoremen at the Port of Baltimore are among 45,000 who went on strike Tuesday for the first time in decades, effectively shutting down ports from Maine to Texas. Those shipping terminals are where about half of U.S. imports are processed.

Baltimore dockworkers were just recovering from March's Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse. Nearly all shipments into the port stopped while crews cleaned debris after the cargo ship Dali struck and destroyed the bridge.

The Baltimore Banner reported that over 100 people picketed in the Tuesday rain outside the Dundalk marine terminals on Broening Highway.

Signs read "Machines don’t feed families" and "No work without a fair contract," The Banner said. WJZ video showed workers carrying signs saying"Profit over people is unacceptable: Support ILA workers."

Related: Dockworkers Strike In Baltimore, Supply Chain Concerns Begin

The dockworkers' union, the International Longshoremen's Association, also points to record profits by shipping companies, which have come in part because of shortages resulting from the pandemic, and to a more generous contract that West Coast dockworkers achieved last year. Longshoremen’s workloads have also increased, and the effects of inflation have eroded their pay in recent years, the union says.

Gov. Wes Moore applauded the deal to resume port activity.

"Our state is not complete without the men and women that work these ports every day and we are thrilled that come tomorrow morning, our ports will be firing on all cylinders with the support of our Local ILA 333 President Scott Cowan, their entire membership, and the U.S. Maritime Alliance," Moore said in a Thursday evening statement.

The Port of Baltimore generates nearly $3.3 billion in total personal income and supports 15,330 direct jobs and 139,180 jobs connected to port work, according to Maryland State Archives. The port also generates more than $395 million in taxes and $2.6 billion in business income. It serves over 50 ocean carriers, making nearly 1,800 annual visits.

Experts warned that a prolonged strike would have a huge impact on many local businesses that depend on the port to keep their shelves stocked, with items such as car parts, fruits and veggies, and imported beer expected to become scarce.

Related: Stockpiling Toilet Paper? No Need To Hoard During Port Strike: Experts

Reports of shoppers engaging in “panic buying” quickly followed, although many of the items that disappeared from shelves – including toilet paper – are produced domestically and shipped via rail.

Related: 'Don't Panic': What MD Consumers Need To Know About Dockworkers Strike

A turning point in negotiations has apparently been reached, with both sides releasing a joint statement on Thursday:

“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.”

President Joe Biden — who refused to invoke the federal Taft-Hartley Act to break the strike — said the decision to reopen ports is “patriotic” and shows that “collective bargaining works.”

“[The] tentative agreement on a record wage and an extension of the collective bargaining process represents critical progress towards a strong contract,” Biden said. “I congratulate the dockworkers from the ILA, who deserve a strong contract after sacrificing so much to keep our ports open during the pandemic. And I applaud the port operators and carriers who are members of the US Maritime Alliance for working hard and putting a strong offer on the table.”

Vice President Kamala Harris said she “applauds all involved for their efforts.”

“As I have said, this is about fairness – and our economy works best when workers share in record profits,” Harris said. “Dockworkers deserve a fair share for their hard work getting essential goods out to communities across America.”

Former president Donald Trump has likewise spoken in support of the dockworkers, although he has also blamed “massive inflation” for throwing gasoline on the fire.

“American workers should be able to negotiate for better wages, especially since the shipping companies are mostly foreign flag vessels, including the largest consortium ONE,” Trump said earlier this week, referring to the Singapore-based shipping company.