Local ILA says port strike is over

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – Local International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) workers tell News 2 that the port strike is over.

Kenneth Riley ILA International Vice President, Port of Charleston told News 2’s Jordan Cioppa that “we reached a deal on the two most important things to us in these negotiations.”

The dockworkers have been on strike for three days over wages and the use of automation.

“To show you that we are committed to servicing America, we came up with a deal today with the assistance of the Biden Administration, the Assistant Secretary of Labor, Pete Buttigieg, and everybody else who were instrumental in getting all the parties together,” said Riley.

Negotiations with the U.S. Maritime Alliance for other items will continue over the next 90 days, but as of now, dockworkers will return to work.

“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 confirmed.

Riley expressed the dockworker’s excitement about their progress saying, “We’ve got a deal that’s good for America, so we’re excited to go back to work.”

“The strike is officially over…for now,” Riley said. “We hope we don’t have to have a strike in January, but at least for now we are done. The parties came together and did the right thing.”

South Carolina Ports President and CEO Barbara Melvin also released a statement following the suspension of the strike Thursday night.

“Now that the parties have agreed to resume their roles in our supply chain success, 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,” Melvin stated. “Let’s get to work!”

This story is breaking and we will provide updates.

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