A three-day-old port strike that South Carolina officials warned might threaten Hurricane Helene recovery efforts ended yesterday, as dock workers and port operators struck a tentative deal to get International Longshoremen’s Association members back on the job in Charleston and around the country.
Under the agreement, port workers will receive a 62% wage hike over the next six years, sources told Reuters. Other issues, including future automation of work currently being performed by union employees, will be hammered out over the next 90 days.
President Joe Biden, who resisted earlier entreaties from S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster and U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., to end the work stoppage by executive order, hailed the agreement.
“I want to thank the union workers, the carriers, and the port operators for acting patriotically to reopen our ports and ensure the availability of critical supplies for Hurricane Helene recovery and rebuilding,” Biden said. “Collective bargaining works, and it is critical to building a stronger economy from the middle out and the bottom up.”
Graham called the agreement “very good news” in a social media statement.
“I am glad this man-made disaster is behind us.” Graham wrote. “Now we will have more resources to help the devastated.”
At an Oct. 3 press briefing before the announcement, S.C. Public Health Department Director Dr. Edward Simmer told reporters that recovery efforts could be hampered if the strike dragged on.
“We’re very concerned because many of the medical supplies come through our ports,” Simmer said. “The sooner our ports reopen, the faster we’ll be able to get our medical care system in the state fully up and running again.”
Port of Charleston ILA Vice President Kenneth Riley told WCBD in Charleston that workers would be returning to work immediately.
“As soon as we can get those ships in here and we can get orders on board, we’ll be back to work as early as tonight or even tomorrow morning,” Riley said.
In a statement, the S.C. State Ports Authority (SPA) said it, too, was ready to resume normal operations.
“South Carolina’s maritime community stands prepared to deliver for shippers, including manufacturers, farmers and retailers, who utilize our port facilities to access global markets,” the SPA said. “Let’s get to work!”
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We Can Do Better, South Carolina!