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Posted: Friday 4 October, 2024 at 5:33 PM

US port workers'strike suspended as discussion continues

By: Staff Reporter, SKNVibes.com

    BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – Concerns over the impact of port strikes in the United States on food supplies across the region, including St. Kitts and Nevis, have been temporarily alleviated as a tentative agreement was reached. This agreement will run through until January 15.

     

    The deal resulted in port workers on the East and Gulf Coasts returning to work yesterday (Oct. 3), following a strike that threatened to disrupt the U.S. economy and have significant repercussions worldwide. The strike came at a time when the global shipping industry is still recovering from the supply chain disruptions experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

     

    The strike was triggered by demands from the union representing port workers for wage increases and assurances that new technologies would not be implemented in ways that could lead to job losses through automation.

     

    On Thursday, prior to the announcement of the agreement, SKNVibes News asked Julie Kozack, Director of Communication at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), about the potential implications for small states like those in the Caribbean, including St. Kitts and Nevis. She noted, "it's too early to have an assessment of the impact. We are obviously very carefully monitoring these developments, and we certainly hope that the parties can come to an agreement as soon as possible to ensure the smooth operation of supply chains and to, of course, minimize any spillovers to other regions of the world.”

     

    According to the National Public Radio (NPR), the International Longshoremen's Association and the United States Maritime Alliance, the umbrella body representing port workers, reached a tentative agreement that includes a 62 percent salary increase phased over six years. The current contract agreement will remain in place until January 15.

     

    However, the issue of port automation has not yet been resolved, and discussions on this matter have been deferred until the new year.

     

    This aspect of the negotiations is of particular significance to regions like the Caribbean, where a substantial portion of the food supply is imported from the United States.

     

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