SAVANNAH ― Cargo ships returned to the Georgia Ports Authority’s docks Friday morning as longshoremen went back to work after a three-day strike.
The union dockworkers walked off the job and onto the picket lines Tuesday after their six-year labor contract expired. Georgia’s longshoremen joined those from 13 other ports along the East and Gulf coasts in the strike.
The International Longshoremen’s Association and the U.S. Maritime Alliance Ltd., which represents shipping companies and certain port operators, announced a tentative agreement Thursday on wages. The deal includes a 62% wage increase, which would boost average salaries from $39 an hour to more than $63 an hour by 2030.
Other details were not known, and a Savannah union boss told his members that benefits package upgrades were still being negotiated.
On Thursday night, one of the leaders of Savannah’s largest ILA chapters, Paul Mosley Sr., told union members picketing outside the main gate of Savannah’s Garden City terminal it was time “to tear down everything and send everybody back to work.” Mosley shared similar news with members at a meeting held at the union hall around midnight.
The ILA has about 2,500 members across five union chapters in Georgia.
“The ships are moving again,” Georgia Ports Authority Chief Executive Griff Lynch said Friday morning. “We’re happy to be back open, especially for the opportunity to get supplies to those affected by Hurricane Helene.”
A prolonged strike threatened economic calamity. October is a prime month for shipments of holiday season goods. Trade in other nonperishable and perishable goods was also threatened, with the risk of shortages on store shelves.
Many retailers had tried to get goods into ports ahead of a potential work stoppage. Parts of the country also saw consumers hoard items, such as toilet paper and other paper products, even though those products are largely made within the U.S.
Credit: TNS
Credit: TNS
The Georgia Ports Authority operates ports in Savannah and Brunswick, but it is not a member of the alliance. Still, the authority closed its gates when the labor agreement expired.
The ILA and the alliance agreed to extend talks to Jan. 15 to negotiate other outstanding matters, but in the meantime, 45,000 dockworkers from Maine to Texas will return to work.
Credit: Adam Van Brimmer
Credit: Adam Van Brimmer
The Georgia Ports Authority’s truck gates reopened at 6 a.m. Friday at the Garden City Terminal and 8 a.m. at the Ocean Terminal. Vessel operations and rail operations also restarted Friday.
“Thank you for your patience during this three-day work stoppage,” the ports said in a statement. “The Georgia Ports Authority, Gateway Terminals and the ILA look forward to reopening our facilities and providing the world-class service the Port of Savannah and the Port of Brunswick are known for.”
