This milestone marks what's been one of the shortest, but more tumultuous, contract negotiations between the two entities in more than a decade.

SEIU 721 said it was putting a strike previously scheduled for Oct. 10 on hold after a "productive meeting" with county leaders.

SEIU and the U of I have reached a tentative agreement. After 8 days of striking, they are back on the job. The walkout left campus with extra trash and students without many options for on campus dining.

A 63 percent wage increase for East and Gulf Coast longshoremen helped halt the walkout, which threatened to damage the national economy had it continued.

The strike, which began on Tuesday after dock workers said management stalled pay increases and refused to provide sufficient protections against automation, threatened to cripple the economy as key imports were set to be held up.

The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) on Thursday evening announced it was suspending its strike until January 15, pending a deal with the group representing the port owners, United States Maritime Alliance (USMX).

The union for striking dockworkers said Thursday evening they'll return to work at U.S. ports after reaching a tentative deal with the United States Maritime Alliance, ending three Why it matters: There were concerns that if the first port strike on the East Coast since 1977 had continued it could have hit supply chains and drive shortages and higher prices as the U.

At least 25,000 dockworkers across 14 ports along the East and Gulf coasts in the U.S. can return to work amid a tentative agreement made on wages that would extend their current contract until Jan. 15.