**White House Brokers Critical Deal to End Dockworkers’ Strike Ahead of Election**

In the early hours of Thursday morning, a strategic intervention by senior White House officials averted a potentially devastating economic strike just weeks before the impending election. White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients, starting his day before dawn at 5:30 a.m., convened on a Zoom call with key members of President Joe Biden's administration and shipping company executives to resolve the ongoing strike at major East and Gulf Coast ports.

The crisis, which threatened to derail the nation’s economy and tarnish the president's legacy, saw White House chief economist Lael Brainard pressing management for an improved offer to the striking workers. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg underscored the urgency by linking the situation to the impacts of Hurricane Helene, while Labor Secretary Julie Su remained optimistic that an offer including wage raises would secure a temporary extension from the union.

In a bold move, as the meeting concluded, Zients announced to the U.S. Maritime Alliance board members that he would inform President Biden of their agreement to propose a new offer to the union, despite the executives not having made any such commitment at that moment. "I need the offer today – not tomorrow. Today," Zients stressed, setting a firm timeline.

By day’s end, a deal had been forged to keep the ports operational until January, narrowly avoiding immediate economic disruption. The agreement, celebrated by Democrats from the White House to Capitol Hill, includes a significant 62 percent increase in dockworkers' wages, an extension of contract terms until January 15, and has the potential to influence Vice President Kamala Harris positively, alongside favorable job reports released.

Nonetheless, President Biden's pro-union stance continues to spark debate within political and economic circles. His refusal to invoke the Taft-Hartley Act, a mechanism that could have federally enforced an end to the strike, highlights his commitment to labor unions. This strategy, while yielding results in this instance, raised concerns among some business groups and political critics who believe it could be too lenient towards labor interests.

The strike involved around 45,000 dockworkers, led by New Jersey-based International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) President Harold Daggett, clashing with the chief executives of global shipping lines from Europe and Asia. The longshoremen, emboldened by the shipping lines' pandemic-era profits, had demanded their share but settled on a moderated ask after negotiations.

The White House's hands-on approach, managed closely by Zients along with Brainard, Su, and Buttigieg, involved numerous calls and meetings. Su leveraged her past negotiations with West Coast ports to build trust, particularly with Daggett, navigating through strained conversations and intense sessions that ultimately paved the way for the agreement.

The strike’s resolution marks a temporary triumph for Biden’s administration but leaves open the question of the long-term viability of his staunchly pro-union policies. The tentative agreement, reflecting substantial pay increases, has been hailed as a significant victory for the dockworkers, with union leaders praising the administration's role in defending their interests against powerful global shipping giants.