 President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris celebrated the news that the International Longshoremen’s Association union had temporarily paused their strike until after the election.
The union ended their three-day strike until January 15, after reaching a temporary agreement with the U.S. Maritime Alliance.
The port employers offered workers to increase wages by 62 percent, according to reports, which helped reach a ‘tentative agreement.’
Biden spoke to reporters after returning to White House on Thursday night from Georgia, but he was cautious.
‘They’ve got the next 90 days, they are going to settle everything,’ he said. ‘With the grace of God, and the goodwill of neighbors, it’s gonna hold.’
President Joe Biden talks with reporters as he arrives at the White House in Washington
The White House worked behind the scenes to end the strike, as the shutdown of port activity represented a threat to the economy and the cost of food and goods in the United States, an issue particularly perilous for Democrats in an election year.
In a statement from the White House, Biden praised the news.
‘Collective bargaining works, and it is critical to building a stronger economy from the middle out and the bottom up,’ he said.
Vice President Kamala Harris also celebrated the news in a statement.
Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris
Workers take part in a port strike at Port Newark, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, in Bayonne, N.J.
‘This step indicates progress toward a strong contract and represents the power of collective bargaining,’ she said.
Harris also restated her support for the dockworkers who forced a temporary pause in the strike.
‘As I have said, this is about fairness – and our economy works best when workers share in record profits,’ she wrote.
