Dock strikes called off
Friday 28 December 2012
Printable
EmailA last-minute deal today temporarily averted a US dockworkers' strike planned for Sunday.
A federal mediator announced that bosses had agreed to a 30-day extension of an expired contract while negotiations continue with the International Association of Longshoremen.
The 14,500 dock workers at 15 major US ports were due to strike when the contract ran out at one minute past midnight on Sunday.
The stoppage, largely over royalty payments for each container unloaded, could have cost the US economy billions of dollars.
Negotiations will now continue until at least midnight on January 28.
The ports involved in the dispute handle more than 100 million tons of goods a year - about 40 per cent of all US container cargo.
If you appreciated this article then please consider donating to the Morning Star's Fighting Fund to ensure we can keep developing your paper.
Editorial
Hands off our postal service
A government guided by common sense would respond to news that publicly owned Royal Mail has increased profits to £403 million by scrapping plans to flog off the service.
Features
Trade unionists will keep fighting for Wales
Wales TUC president sets out the achievements of Welsh workers over the past year - and looks to the battles ahead
Dirty wars
Interview with Jeremy Scahill, author of a chilling new exposé of the US's worldwide war without end