Longshoremen suspend strike, as ports agree to pay raise demands

Workers represented by the International Longshoremen’s Association will return to their posts following the suspension of a widespread strike across the Eastern United States. The strike ends after a tentative deal was reached between the dockworkers and the management group United States Maritime Alliance, suspending a action that had the potential to disrupt the U.S. economy. The strike, which began on Tuesday after dock workers said management stalled pay increases and refused to provide sufficient protections against automation, threatened to cripple the economy as key imports were set to be held up. Related Strike over automation fears shuts down operations at 36 ports across the US The agreement extended an existing contract until Jan. 15, giving dockworkers and the United States Maritime Alliance time to hammer out the details.