Automation was at the center of a long-running labor dispute that threatened to close East and Gulf Coast ports.

The union representing 45,000 dock workers on the U.S. East and Gulf Coasts and their employers on Wednesday said they reached a tentative deal on a new six-year contract, averting further strikes that could have snarled supply chains and taken a toll on the U.

A US dockworkers union reached a tentative deal on a new labor contract with a group of ocean carriers and terminal operators that, if ratified would avoid a shutdown of East and Gulf coast ports next week.

Dockworkers represented by the International Longshoremen’s Association negotiated to avoid a second port strike in a matter of months.

U.S. dockworkers and shipping companies reached a tentative labor deal, capping a contentious contract battle that drew attention from President Biden and President-elect Donald Trump and averting a strike at major ports that threatened to rattle the U.

The United States Maritime Alliance said on Tuesday it reached a tentative agreement on a new six-year master contract with the International Longshoremen’s Association.

The US Maritime Alliance struck a six-year deal with shipping and port companies, averting a strike that would have crippled shipping.