Limited fallout expected locally as US dockworkers suspend strike

By Prince Moore   

 

Local businesses are breathing a sigh of relief after the short lived strike by US dockworkers at East and Gulf coast ports.

 

Metry Seaga, President of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ), said the impact on the country's economy from the strike action will be limited.

 

The union representing tens of thousands of dockworkers across the US has agreed to suspend its strike while negotiations continue.

 

Members of the International Longshoremen's Association walked out on Tuesday at 14 major ports along the east and Gulf coasts, halting container traffic from Maine to Texas.

 

The union representing 45,000 US dockworkers at East and Gulf coast ports reached a deal to suspend the three-day strike until January 15 to provide time to negotiate a new contract.

 

Jamaicans were told to brace for delays to their shipments coming out of the US due to the strike.

 

Mr. Seaga said the agreement reached for the resumption of duties is positive news for countries such as Jamaica which depend on goods from the United States. 

 

"We are elated that they are coming to some agreement and we hope that they can come to a final agreement and end this strike as quickly as possible. While some damage may have been done, the damage will be limited if they go back to work on Friday.... Every day that they stay out the damage gets worse, so we are very happy that they're going back," he noted.