The ports of Savannah and Brunswick will continue to operate uninterrupted after the union representing dockworkers along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts reached a tentative agreement with the U.S. Maritime Alliance. 

The International Longshoremen’s Association and United States Maritime Alliance have agreed on all items for a new six-year Master Contract. The two sides agreed to continue to operate under the current contract until the union can meet with its full Wage Scale Committee and schedule a ratification vote, and Maritime Alliance members can ratify the terms of the final contract.

The Longshoreman’s Association had a three-day walkout last October, but then agreed to go back to work setting a new deadline of Jan. 15, 2025. The three-day work stoppage affected ports from Maine to Texas, including Brunswick and Savannah. 

Savannah is the second-busiest port on the East Coast and the fourth busiest in the nation. The Port of Brunswick is the nation’s second-busiest for vehicle cargo.

The Longshoreman’s Association (ILA) is seeking a significant pay increase in addition to the elimination of the use of automated cranes, gates, and container-moving trucks in unloading or loading freight. 

“We are pleased to announce that ILA and USMX have reached a tentative agreement on a new six-year ILA-USMX Master Contract, subject to ratification, thus averting any work stoppage,” the two sides said in a joint statement. “This agreement protects current ILA jobs and establishes a framework for implementing technologies that will create more jobs while modernizing East and Gulf coast ports – making them safer and more efficient, and creating the capacity they need to keep our supply chains strong.”

“This is a win-win agreement that creates ILA jobs, supports American consumers and businesses, and keeps the American economy the key hub of the global marketplace.”

Details of the new tentative agreement will not be released to allow ILA rank-and-file-members and USMX members to review and approve the final document.