Longshoremen’s union suspends strike until Jan. 15, reports AP – Boston News, Weather, Sports

DETROIT (AP) — The union representing 45,000 striking U.S. longshoremen at ports on the East and Gulf Coasts has agreed to suspend its strike until Jan. 15 to allow time to negotiate a new contract, it said a person informed of the matter.

The union, the International Longshoremen’s Association, should resume work immediately, at least until January, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement has yet to be signed.

The agreement gives the union and the US Maritime Alliance, which represents shippers and ports, time to negotiate a new six-year contract. The person also said the two sides had reached an agreement on wage increases, but details were not available.

The union went on strike early Tuesday after its contract expired in a dispute over pay and the automation of tasks at ports from Maine to Texas. The strike came at the height of the holiday shopping season at 36 ports that handle about half of the cargo on ships entering and leaving the United States.

The strike increased the risk of stock shortages on store shelves if it lasted longer than a few weeks. But most retailers had restocked or shipped items early in anticipation of the work stoppage.

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