Dockworkers and port companies have come to a tentative agreement on a new six-year deal, avoiding another work stoppage that would cause major shipping disruptions along the East Coast. The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) announced the

Both parties said the deal "establishes a framework for implementing technologies that will create more jobs while modernizing" the ports.

President and CEO Dan Halstrom issued the following statement: “This tentative contract agreement is great news for red meat exporters and for all of U.S. agriculture. The assurance that there will be no work stoppage at East and Gulf Coast ports eliminates a cloud of uncertainty and bolsters the U.