The contract for dockworkers on the East Coast and the Gulf Coast has been
extended for 30 days, averting, for now, a strike that could have begun Sunday:
Federal mediators announced Friday morning that a temporary deal had been reached between the International Longshoremen's Association and the United States Maritime Alliance.
The deal adds a 30-day extension to talks between the two parties, averting a shutdown at the ports that oversee 45 percent of commerce, according to a Bloomberg report. Now, the ILA and the USMA have until midnight on Jan. 28 to iron out their differences and come to a long-term deal.
That's not the only movement being reported:
Mediator: Maritime Alliance, Longshoreman's Association agree on container royalty issue, further negotiations on larger deal - @Reuters
— @BreakingNews via breakingnews.com
If the latter report is correct, the two are likely related; Steven Greenhouse had reported that the president of the International Longshoremen's Association had
previously refused a contract extension while the royalty issue remained a source of contention.
President Obama had urged a settlement, but stopped short of saying he would act to prevent a strike.