Longshoremen are expected to return to the job at ports in New York and New Jersey after a surprise walkout on Friday put a halt to the unloading of ships at the nation's third-busiest port.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said Friday night that operations would resume and the International Longshoremen's organization told its members to return to work as it continues working on their concerns.
A spokeswoman for the New York Shipping organization said that after an emergency contract board assembly was called Friday afternoon,an arbitrator ruled that the work stoppage was a violation of a no strike provision in the contract with the longshoremen.
The NYSA's Beverly Fedorko said both sides agreed to "expeditiously seek solutions to ...longstanding issues" that include hiring and technology.
More than 1000 longshoremen suddenly walked off their jobs Friday morning, bringing all ports in New York and New Jersey to a halt, and according to Port Authority officials. It's not immediately clear what prompted the job action,though the longshoremen's union has accused the Waterfront Commission of taking too long to approve new hires.
The ports in New York and New Jersey are the busiest in the East Coast and moment-busiest in the nation behind the California ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.
Source: wnyc.org