Boston Towing Strike Ends as Tugboat Workers Secure New Contract
Eight days of picketing under a sweltering July sun concluded today as Teamsters Local 25 members ratified a new labor agreement with Boston Towing and Transportation Company. The deal secures higher wages and fully employer-paid health insurance for the crews responsible for guiding vessels through the city’s busy harbor.
The resolution comes just in time for the upcoming Sail Boston maritime festival, ensuring that more than 50 large ships and military vessels, including the USS Constitution, can navigate the harbor without disruption. Engineers, mechanics, and operators had maintained a 24-hour picket line through the holiday weekend and a severe regional heat wave to force the company back to the table.
Tom Mari, President of Teamsters Local 25, credited the victory to the persistence of the workforce. The union, which represents 13,000 members across the greater Boston area, framed the new contract as a significant improvement in both working conditions and benefits. With the strike now settled, the company resumes its essential role in regional maritime logistics.
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