The International Longshoremen’s Association and United States Maritime Alliance have reached a tentative agreement, subject to ratification, on a new six-year Master Contract, the union and port operators association announced.  The agreement will allow East and Gulf Coast ports to continue to operate when the current suspension of the union’s strike expires.

The strike, which began September 30, was suspended until January 15 in early October, after agreement on wage issues was reached and the union and port operators agreed to negotiate on the remaining issues (see "Dockworkers Agree to Suspend Strike").  The ports will operate under the current Master Contract until the agreement is ratified.

"This agreement protects current ILA jobs and establishes a framework for implementing technologies that will create more jobs while modernizing East and Gulf coasts ports – making them safer and more efficient, and creating the capacity they need to keep our supply chains strong," the union and port operators’ association said in a joint statement.

The financial terms provided for 62% raises over six years; details of the agreement on the remaining issues, including the contentious issue of port automation, were not released pending ratification.