Everyone, put the toilet paper back on the Costco shelves, and enjoy a hot dog and fountain drink this weekend. The threat of disruptions to the U.S. supply chain is over, for now. The nationwide strike of 45,000 dockworkers across 36 United States ports has been suspended until Jan. 15, 2025. This means on the local front that the Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA) container terminal reopens today, and the International Longshoremen’s Association member dockworkers return to work with truck gates at the New Orleans Terminal and Ports America opening today at noon. “The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance, Ltd. (USMX) have reached a tentative agreement on wages and have agreed to extend the Master Contract until January 15, 2025, to return to the bargaining table to negotiate all other outstanding issues,” the two parties released in a joint statement. “Effective immediately, all current job actions will cease, and all work covered by the Master Contract will resume.” The ILA union went on strike Oct. 1 because of a failed agreement with the USMX on the master contract between the two organizations. The master contract covers all U.S. East Coast and Gulf Coast ports, including at the Port of New Orleans – with the 36 ports estimated to handle roughly half of the goods shipped into and out of the U.S. According to an AP story, the ILA union demanded a 77% raise over six years, plus a complete ban on the use of automation at the ports. Both sides also have been apart on pension contributions and the distribution of royalties paid on containers moved by workers. Industry analysts estimated that for every day of a port strike, it would take four to six days to recover. The temporary end to the strike, the first by the ILA since 1977, came after the ILA union and USMX, which represents ports and shipping companies, reached a tentative agreement on wages and agreed on a suspension to the strike to give parties more time to negotiate the master contract. A source briefed on the agreement, according to the AP, said the ports sweetened their wage offer from about 50% over six years to 62%. That wage increase is tentative and would have to be approved by union members as part of the ratification of a final contract. Last weekend, Port NOLA proactively prepared for the temporary disruption by offering weekend gate operations to shippers and trucking companies in an effort to minimize supply chain disruptions. Port NOLA is providing updates to the New Orleans Terminal, LLC gate and yard operations, which resumes at noon today, and also the Ports America – New Orleans, which reopens operations at its gate/terminal at noon today.