NEW YORK/WASHINGTON — U.S. dock workers and port operators reached a tentative deal that will immediately end a crippling three-day strike that has shut down shipping on the U.S. East Coast and Gulf Coast, the two sides said Thursday. The tentative agreement is for a wage hike of around 62% over six years. …That would raise average wages to about $63 an hour from $39 an hour over the life of the contract. The union had been seeking a 77% raise while the employer group had previously raised its offer to nearly 50%. …The union and the port operators said in a statement that they would extend their master contract until Jan. 15, 2025 to return to the bargaining table to negotiate all outstanding issues. …Among key issues that remain unresolved is automation that workers say will lead to job losses. The port strike hit just as southeastern states were struggling for supplies following a deadly hurricane.