About 45,000 dockworkers launched a strike at major East Coast and Gulf Coast ports on October 1, 2024, temporarily stopping roughly half of U.S. containerized ocean shipping before a new contract eventually ended the dispute.
The International Longshoremen’s Association workers walked off the job after their contract with the United States Maritime Alliance expired without agreement. The affected ports stretched from Maine to Texas and handled imports ranging from automobiles and food to clothing, furniture and manufacturing parts. The union sought substantial wage increases and stronger protections against automation, which it argued could eliminate jobs.
Employers said their proposed pay package was competitive but failed to persuade union leaders before the deadline. Analysts warned that a prolonged stoppage could have cost the economy billions of dollars daily, delayed holiday merchandise and increased inflationary pressure. After three days, the union suspended the strike on October 3 while negotiations continued under a contract extension through January 15, 2025.
The two sides later reached a six-year agreement, and union members ratified it in February 2025, covering the period through September 2030.