On January 8 (Reuters) – A potential strike by dock workers representing 45,000 individuals along the East and Gulf Coasts of the U.S. has been avoided after union leaders and employers announced a preliminary agreement on a new six-year contract.

This would have marked the second strike in four months by U.S. dock workers. Notably, the agreement did not address the contentious issue of automation, which has been a significant challenge during negotiations.

In a joint statement, the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) employer group and the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) characterized the agreement as a “win-win” situation.

“This deal safeguards existing jobs for ILA members and lays down a foundation for adopting technologies that will enhance job creation, modernize the East and Gulf coast ports, improve safety and efficiency, and strengthen our supply chains,” the statement read.

Details regarding the contract have not been revealed.

The negotiating parties have extended discussions until January 15 to finalize terms related to automation. Concerns arose among shipping industry leaders that an agreement might not be reached, potentially leading to a second strike by the ILA just before President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20.

In October, a three-day ILA strike caused shipping prices to spike and resulted in cargo backlogs at 36 ports. Workers returned to their jobs after securing a 62% pay raise over the next six years.

The ILA and USMX have agreed to operate under the current contract until the union can convene with its Wage Scale Committee to organize a ratification vote, at which point USMX members can officially agree to the terms of the final contract.