The nationwide port workers strike that had entered a third day has been suspended, the regional president of the International Longshoremen’s Association told 7News, citing a source in New Jersey. Thursday evening, Johnnie Dixon, the ILA’s regional president, said the ILA has struck an agreement with the United States Maritime Alliance to suspend the strike until Jan. 15 in order to provide time to negotiate a new contract. “Everything is great. We finally reached an agreement with the United States Maritime Alliance,” said Dixon. Dixon told 7News he heard from someone in the ILA in New Jersey about the agreement to suspend the strike for a temporary period of time. “We just [made] history. We got 61.5% over the next six years, and that’s just to show the American people, at the end of the day, if you don’t fight for nothing, you don’t get nothing,” said Dixon. The announcement comes hours after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis weighed in on one of Florida’s most pressing issues in recent memory—the fear of automation. During a press conference in the Florida Panhandle, DeSantis spoke in person on the issue, threatening to deploy the National Guard if the situation gets out of hand. “We have a responsibility in the state of Florida to do everything we can to avoid, mitigate, and minimize these disruptions that will have a negative impact on the state of Florida,” said Governor DeSantis. “Every 36 hours this continues is equal to one week of supply chain disruptions.” In the wake of Hurricane Helene’s devastation, DeSantis vowed on social media to ensure the economy continues to function so the victims may have what they need. He argued that the protests disrupted the distribution of food and supplies to those impacted by the storm. “I don’t think it’s right to try and cripple the recovery that our storm victims are undergoing,” he said. DeSantis did not specify which ports might see the National Guard move in. The governor’s remarks come days after the beginning of the strike that led to about 45,000 members of the International Longshoremen’s Association walking out on the job. The protests have hit four of Florida’s 16 ports, including two in South Florida. They have the potential to be one of the most disruptive work stoppages in recent American history. A growing trend among port operators saw the increase of the number of driverless trucks and cranes, which use fewer people. In turn, they are also fighting for higher wages. “I just spoke to some of our constituents in that area that has been severely impacted by Hurricane Helene,” said Johnnie Dixon. “Our members in that area are willing to work those vessels for free, just to make sure we help take care of the American people. So before any politician makes any outlandish statement, they should put boots on the ground.” “What’s the endgame?” 7News reporter Michael Hudak asked. “What are you hoping for?” “The endgame is a fair contract,” said Dixon. President Joe Biden weighed in on the situation, releasing a statement commending the ILA and USMX for their efforts in reaching an agreement. “I want to applaud the International Longshoremen’s Association and the United States Maritime Alliance for coming together to reopen the East Coast and Gulf ports,” said Biden. “Today’s tentative agreement on a record wage and an extension of the collective bargaining process represents critical progress towards a strong contract. I congratulate the dockworkers from the ILA, who deserve a strong contract after sacrificing so much to keep our ports open during the pandemic. And I applaud the port operators and carriers who are members of the US Maritime Alliance for working hard and putting a strong offer on the table. I want to thank the union workers, the carriers, and the port operators for acting patriotically to reopen our ports and ensure the availability of critical supplies for Hurricane Helene recovery and rebuilding. Collective bargaining works, and it is critical to building a stronger economy from the middle out and the bottom up.”