increased in november for the third straight month to reach the highest level in two-and-a-half years. major port strike has been averted for now after mediators got the long shoreman's union to postpone it for month to work out time detail osafter new contract. correspondent phil keeting is following that story from miami. >> at least one end of the year cliff has been averted for now. container cliff. there will be no east and gulf coast port strike happening this weekend. but both sides still have much to work out. if they don't, five weeks from now will be right back to a sweeping strike with great consequences. >> a strike in long beach in los angeles a few weeks ago. that was close. if you cost that area, $1 billion a day. >> sticking point has been the container royalties. salary supplements for long shoremen. heavier the container, the more they get paid. the owners want to cap the royalties at last year's levels to 15,000 long shoreman did not. this from the federal mediator