Deal Reached to Avoid East and Gulf Coast Port Strike

A major strike at ports along the East and Gulf coasts has been averted after the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX) reached a tentative deal on a new six-year contract. The agreement was announced Wednesday, just days before the January 15 deadline.

The deal still needs to be ratified by union members and USMX representatives. The two sides will continue operating under the current contract until the votes are held. No dates for these meetings have been announced yet.

The ILA and USMX expressed satisfaction with the outcome in a joint st