Union, employers credit Trump in US port deal that may shape future talks

A tentative labour deal forestalled potentially damaging trade disruptions at three dozen US East Coast and Gulf of Mexico ports, with both sides in the talks crediting President elect Donald Trump for clearing the way for them to hammer out a deal on automation.

The success of the International Longshoremen's Association in winning Trump's support for its anti-automation battle could be instructive for unions facing contract renewals during his term, including the United Auto Workers, UPS Teamsters and the US

West Coast's International Longshore & Warehouse Union.

The deal, announced on Wednesday night, must be ratified by some 45,000 members of ILA and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) employer group.

"This is a six-year détente in the tech-versus-labor tug-of-war at US ports," said Judah Levine, head of research at Freightos, a freight-booking and payments platform.