Georgia ports back in business after strike settlement

ATLANTA — The ports of Savannah and Brunswick reopened Friday after the union representing striking dockworkers along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts reached a tentative agreement with the U.S. Maritime Alliance.

The settlement deal between the alliance, which represents ports and shipping companies, and the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) suspended the strike until Jan. 15 to give the parties time to negotiate a permanent agreement.

The settlement offered dock workers a 62% raise over six years, up from the 50% offer management put on the table before the three-day strike began.

"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," the ports authority wrote late Thursday in a statement notifying customers and business partners of Friday's reopening.

President Joe Biden praised the agreement in a statement the White House released late Thursday.

"I congratulate the dockworkers from the ILA, who deserve a strong contract after sacrificing so much to keep our ports open during the pandemic," Biden said. "And I applaud the port operators and carriers who are members of the U.S. Maritime Alliance for working hard and putting a strong offer on the table."

The Port of Savannah is the second-busiest port on the East Coast and the fourth-busiest in the nation. The Port of Brunswick is the nation’s second-busiest for vehicle cargo.

It's been a rough couple of weeks for the Georgia ports. Before the longshoremen's strike began, the ports were forced to limit operations after Hurricane Helene struck South Georgia Sept. 27 with high winds, heavy rain, and severe flooding.