‘We saved our jobs’: Port workers say they’re excited to get back to work now that strike has been suspended

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – At the International Longshoreman’s Association building on 5th Street Thursday, many port workers gathered to celebrate the end of the port strike.

“I’m a third-generation longshoreman, so this is a real celebratory moment,” port worker Samuel Brown III said. “We’re very grateful for this whole occasion.”

The end of the strike came after three days of hitting the picket lines. Some of the worker’s demands included an end to automation and higher wages.

Around 6 p.m. Thursday, the strike was suspended after the ILA announced it had reached a tentative deal with the U.S. Maritime Alliance.

A representative of the ILA union released the following statement:

‘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.’

The deal includes a plan for higher wages, with CNN reporting there would be a 62% wage increase over a six-year contract.

“Some people are saying that the amounts we’re asking for are a lot,” Brown said. “But they’re not taking into consideration what we’re up against, you know foreign entities taking money out of our country.”

There has been no word yet on whether the deal says anything about automation.

Port workers say the strike showed people how important their roles are in the community.

“A lot of people are affected by our jobs,” port worker John N. Bellamy Jr. said. “And our job is a dangerous job.”

Not only was the strike suspension a testament to the need to keep the industry and supply chain going, but ILA members say it’s also a testament to the strength of their union.

“I’ve been in many strikes, over the 60 years I’ve been here,” Port Worker William Freeman said. “Many strikes. And I knew that as long as we stayed together we could get the results that we wanted. This proved that today.”

In January, when the tentative deal will expire, workers say they’re looking for the same agreement to be finalized.

“If it picks back up we would be back out on the picket line,” port worker William High said.

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