President Biden congratulated unionized West Coast dock worker leaders Wednesday for finalizing a new “landmark” contract that he said will keep the ports open and working.
While an auto workers’ strike looms, leaders of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association joined Mr. Biden at the White House for a celebration. The ports were a focus of supply-chain bottlenecks that contributed to shortages and rising prices during the pandemic.
“I’m really happy this day has arrived,” Mr. Biden said. “It’s a big deal for management, for labor, as well as the United States of America, I really mean it.”
Mr. Biden, whose wife Jill Biden tested positive for COVID on Monday, did not wear a mask during his remarks, joking, “don’t tell them I didn’t have it on when I walked in.” The president has tested negative every day since the first lady tested positive, and has no symptoms, according to press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.
The contract that was finalized last week after more than a year of negotiations is set to last for six years and was approved by 75% of union members who voted. The contract includes a 32% pay increase over a six-year period and a one-time bonus, reported at a collective $70 million, referred to as the “hero” bonus for 22,000 workers throughout 29 ports for their “exceptional efforts during the pandemic.”
“At long last they’ve reached an agreement because they stuck with it,” the president said. “It has been ratified with overwhelming support by union workers.”
In June, ILWU workers at the Los Angeles, Long Beach, Oakland, Tacoma, Seattle and Hueneme ports stopped working for a day, which caused the Biden administration to get involved and send in acting Labor Secretary Julie Su.
Mr. Biden said that he was told “by both sides” that Ms. Su helped negotiations continue and ultimately aided in the agreement on a contract.
The president said the ports have a “gigantic economic impact.” The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach handle 40% of the nation’s cargo containers every year.
The agreement will reduce inflation, the president said, adding that fixing the supply chains to bring down inflation was “a top priority.”
• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.
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