The Georgia Ports Authority said Thursday night its Savannah and Brunswick facilities will reopen Friday after a major union suspended its strike to allow more time to negotiate a master contract.
The state-run authority said the Ocean and Garden City terminals in Savannah, two key container terminals, will resume operations in the morning.
The International Longshoremen’s Association and the U.S. Maritime Alliance Ltd., which represents shipping companies and certain port operators, announced a tentative agreement Thursday on wages , though details of that deal were not immediately known. A master contract expired Monday and terminals were locked on Tuesday.
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A prolonged strike threatened economic calamity. October is a prime month for shipments of holiday season goods. Trade in other nonperishable and perishable goods was also threatened, with the risk of shortages on store shelves.
Many retailers had tried to get goods into ports ahead of a potential work stoppage. Parts of the country also saw consumers hoard items, such as toilet paper and other paper products , even though those products are largely made within the U.S.