Talks between the dockers and the United States Maritime Alliance, which represents terminals and carriers, broke down in June. At one point the union wanted a wage increase of nearly 80%.

Yes, ports in the United States are less efficient than ports in third-world nations. No American port was near the top 10 most efficient ports in the world. The culprit – the lack of automation.

A historic United States port strike has been suspended and a tentative agreement was reached "on wages," according to the International Longshoremen’s Association and the U.S. Maritime Alliance.

"USMX brought on this strike when they decided to hold firm to foreign-owned Ocean Carriers earning billion-dollar profits at United States ports, but not compensate the American ILA longshore ...

A strike would shut five of the ten busiest ports in North America. Talks between the dockers and the United States Maritime Alliance, which represents terminals and carriers, broke down in June.