By Shirleen Guerra (The Center Square)
About 45,000 dockworkers are expected to strike for higher wages across three dozen East and Gulf coast ports at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday.
There is potential for increased consumer costs on a wide range of goods just five weeks before Election Day, and 12 weeks before Christmas.
Negotiations and Demands
Negotiations have been tense since June. The disagreement is between the International Longshore Association and Warehouse Union, which represents port workers across the country, and the U.S. Maritime Alliance, which represents terminal operators and ocean carriers.
Wages of East and Gulf coast workers are currently at a base wage of $39 an hour after six years. The union is asking for a 77% pay raise increase over six years and is also demanding more restrictions and bans on the automation of cranes, gates, and container movements used to load or unload cargo.
The strike would impact 36 U.S. ports handling about one-half of U.S. ocean imports, including key ports like Boston, New York, New Jersey, and Philadelphia.
Current Status and Responses
While negotiations have remained stagnant, both parties have continued to push out updates on the situation. The U.S. Maritime Alliance has filed an “unfair labor practice” charge against the union, while the union has accused the employers of engaging in a weak publicity campaign.
The union also stated that its 85,000 members would honor its century-plus pledge and continue to handle all military cargo at all ports despite the strike.
Political Response
Lawmakers have expressed concerns over the potential strike and its impact on the economy. President Joe Biden has been urged to utilize every authority at his disposal to ensure the continuing flow of goods. However, the president’s stance on the Taft-Hartley Act, a possible solution to end the strike, remains a point of contention.
Elizabeth H. Shuler, president of The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, has opposed an injunction to prevent a possible strike, stating that the fight for a fair contract for longshoremen is the entire labor movement’s fight.
In conclusion, the looming strike at East and Gulf coast ports poses significant challenges for both workers and the economy. The outcome of the negotiations and the potential intervention of political authorities will determine the impact on consumer costs and supply chains in the coming weeks.
Syndicated with permission from The Center Square.
