A massive strike across the U.S. East and Gulf Coast ports has been averted after a dockworker union and an alliance of companies, terminal operators, and port associations, negotiated a new labor contract.

An agreement that includes automation job protections will avoid disruptive port strikes that could have erupted as early as next week.

The head of the dockworkers union praised President-elect Trump for his support amid contract negotiations with port operators, particularly on the issue of automation. The International

The tentative agreement staves off strike action by the ILA, allowing U.S. ports to continue operating on the East and Gulf coasts.

The longshoremen’s union was threatening a work stoppage that could have frozen East and Gulf coast ports days before President-elect Trump takes office.

The International Longshoremen's Association reached an agreement Wednesday on a new master labor contract with the United States Maritime Alliance, averting a strike at U.S. east coast and gulf coast ports.

Reuters reports that the union representing 45,000 dock workers on the U.S. East and Gulf Coasts and their employers reached a tentative deal on a new six-year contract.

The United States Maritime Alliance and International Longshoremen's Association reached a deal on a contract Wednesday night avoiding a strike that could have shut down ports up and down the East Coast and crippled the U.S. economy.

U.S. port strike has been averted after the union representing 45,000 dockworkers on the east and Gulf Coasts struck a tentative deal Wednesday on a new six-year contract. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says the key issue has been port workers fighting to save their jobs from automation.