The union representing 45,000 dock workers on the U.S. East and Gulf Coasts and their employers on Wednesday said they reached a tentative deal on a new six-year contract, averting further strikes that could have snarled supply chains and taken a toll on the U.

An agreement on automation and job preservation was crucial to the six-year agreement between the union and management at major East and Gulf Coast ports.

A US dockworkers union reached a tentative deal on a new labor contract with a group of ocean carriers and terminal operators that, if ratified would avoid a shutdown of East and Gulf coast ports next week.

Key Takeaways Dock workers and employers at East and Gulf Coast ports have reached a tentative agreement on a new six-year contract.The deal averts a strike that could have restarted when the current deal expires on Jan.

A tentative six-year contract agreement between longshoremen and ports has averted a potential strike that could have disrupted the U.S. economy.

The International Longshoremen's Association and port terminal operators on the East Coast and Gulf Coast reached a tentative labor deal Wednesday, averting a disruptive dockworker strike that could have shut down all major ports from Maine to Texas starting next week.

The tentative agreement staves off strike action by the ILA, allowing U.S. ports to continue operating on the East and Gulf coasts.