Dockworkers at ports from Maine to Texas
go on strike, a standoff risking new shortages
Associated Press,
by
Tom Krisher
&
Tassanee Vejpongsa
Original Article
Posted By: Dreadnought,
10/1/2024 12:37:30 AM
PHILADELPHIA — Dockworkers at ports from Maine to Texas began walking picket lines early Tuesday in a strike over wages and automation that could reignite inflation and cause shortages of goods if it goes on more than a few weeks.
The contract between the ports and about 45,000 members of the International Longshoremen’s Association expired at midnight, and even though progress was reported in talks on Monday, the workers went on strike. The strike affecting 36 ports is the first by the union since 1977.
Workers began picketing at the Port of Philadelphia shortly after midnight, walking in a circle
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Reply 1 - Posted by:
stablemoney 10/1/2024 12:44:50 AM (No. 1805256)
With all the hurricane devastation, one would think they could postpone their dispute for a few weeks for the sake of the country.
81 people like this.
Reply 2 - Posted by:
Tusker 10/1/2024 12:56:44 AM (No. 1805259)
A perfect complement to the lemming stupidity of the current administration and the freaks lined up to pretend to assume continuation of the ongoing total devastation on this culture.
What an absolute obscenity is this union.
62 people like this.
You know it's a sad state of affairs when a patriot like myself would rather do without for the next 5 weeks while encouraging the strike to drag on if it will help to defeat the incumbent administration on Election Day.
70 people like this.
Reply 4 - Posted by:
OhioNick 10/1/2024 3:12:39 AM (No. 1805270)
I heard on the radio that Dementia Joe said he wouldn't intervene in the strike -- something he's legally allowed to do. Apparently, union jobs are more important to him than this country's economy. And it's funny how we're not being told just how much these dock workers currently earn. Don't they already make obscenely high wages?
48 people like this.
Reply 5 - Posted by:
Lawsy0 10/1/2024 3:32:27 AM (No. 1805276)
Uh oh; the overpriced televised Halloween candy companies just tripled the price. Expect apples, oranges and popcorn balls, kids.
26 people like this.
Reply 6 - Posted by:
mifla 10/1/2024 4:11:41 AM (No. 1805288)
Hopefully, Mayor Pete will come out with some ludicrous statement that will cost Harris thousands of votes.
30 people like this.
Reply 7 - Posted by:
skacmar 10/1/2024 7:12:25 AM (No. 1805318)
The union is demanding no automation. They also want a 50%+ wage increase and huge retirement contribution increase. Many of these workers already make $100,000 to over $300,000 per year. They always talk about corporate greed. This is union greed.
60 people like this.
Reply 8 - Posted by:
berthabutt 10/1/2024 7:13:45 AM (No. 1805320)
Better check your prescriptions refill status! Remember how thin meds were during covid when the shipping went dark.
21 people like this.
Reply 9 - Posted by:
goodbyedems 10/1/2024 7:13:58 AM (No. 1805321)
Seems like 'Kicked-to-the-Curb' Joe is running opposition with Harris campaign. .....hurricane help, border optics and dock strike (with bonus inflation potential). Joe's thanks to Kamala, her staff & $upporter$ for humiliating him and forcing him out.
20 people like this.
Reply 10 - Posted by:
Strike3 10/1/2024 7:25:23 AM (No. 1805327)
Selfish unions and their members could care less what damage they do to the country. It sounds like this action affects more exports than imports. We can do without Chinese junk for a while. The high profit items are coming in over the border anyway. Bring on the port automation and fire them all. Only the democrats will be hurt by the drop in union dues contributions.
20 people like this.
Reply 11 - Posted by:
Strike3 10/1/2024 7:27:42 AM (No. 1805329)
This will be like school teachers going on strike. Nobody will notice.
15 people like this.
Reply 12 - Posted by:
Venturer 10/1/2024 7:37:15 AM (No. 1805339)
Put the Haitians to work on the docks. It will give them something to do.
22 people like this.
Reply 13 - Posted by:
Dodge Boy 10/1/2024 7:45:59 AM (No. 1805350)
They had better be careful with this. A 77 percent wage increase sets them up to be replaced with machines and computers. Longshoremen, beware. AI lurks and you are replaceable with non-union automation.
31 people like this.
Reply 14 - Posted by:
DVC 10/1/2024 8:00:48 AM (No. 1805369)
The unions want to block advancement in technology which would speed up cargo handling.
26 people like this.
Reply 15 - Posted by:
marbles 10/1/2024 8:15:27 AM (No. 1805380)
The administration has known about this strike for months . joey says he's a union guy and wont invoke Taft Hartley to stop the strike. Most people are not aware of the strike, so things are calm but what will happen when they know? Lack of inventory and high prices. Not a pretty picture.
18 people like this.
Reply 16 - Posted by:
TCloud 10/1/2024 8:21:16 AM (No. 1805385)
Hillary's October surprise!
13 people like this.
Reply 17 - Posted by:
Samsquanch 10/1/2024 8:48:50 AM (No. 1805405)
They offered them a 50% pay rise, better benefits with an increase towards their retirement.
19 people like this.
Reply 18 - Posted by:
Zigrid 10/1/2024 9:42:54 AM (No. 1805452)
Time to stock up folks...it's gonna be a tough next couple of months....no time to whine and groan...there's nothing to do but take care of yourselves....another October surprise for US to endure..it will end soon....when President Trump takes back the White House and someone is in charge knows what to do in emergencies....
16 people like this.
Reply 19 - Posted by:
Ida Lou Pino 10/1/2024 10:39:26 AM (No. 1805490)
It's the machines! The damn machines! No more machines! Destroy the machines! Workers of the world unite!
Life was so much better in the 13th century.
9 people like this.
Reply 20 - Posted by:
Ragman73 10/1/2024 11:19:34 AM (No. 1805521)
#1 is correct. But we must be realistic. The reason they will not wait, delay or postpone is : They. Don't.
Care. Simply hogs to the "trough".
6 people like this.
Reply 21 - Posted by:
JHHolliday 10/1/2024 11:57:24 AM (No. 1805553)
This will hurt the average American the worst. Not that the Democrats care about us, Outrageous labor costs will hasten automation no matter what the union does to stop it. There will come a day when a handful of skilled workers will direct machines to do most of what the dockworkers do now.
7 people like this.
Reply 22 - Posted by:
red1066 10/1/2024 12:41:59 PM (No. 1805569)
They don't want automation to take their jobs, so they do the exact thing that will bring on automation of their jobs quicker. Plus, from talking to several people who are dock workers, it seems getting one of these jobs is a who do you know situation. It's not just that they make a very livable wage, but the benefits are outstanding to boot. If you don't have an in with the union, your chance of getting a job is slim at best.
5 people like this.
Reply 23 - Posted by:
kdog 10/1/2024 1:14:59 PM (No. 1805591)
This is weird. No way this helps the incumbent. Wonder if it's a set up so Harris can pretend to "swoop" in and save the day...
4 people like this.
Reply 24 - Posted by:
Starboard_side 10/1/2024 1:34:53 PM (No. 1805596)
#1, they don't care. Period.
A low paying ILA job is well over $100,000 and middle paying jobs are over $200,000.
They already receive container royalty payments for when the freight would be hoisted up by a crane when containers became prevalent.
The ocean carriers have offered 50% pay increase, a tripling of their retirement contributions and more but want to maintain the current Master Contract language in any new contract.
The union boss, who likely makes close to $500,000, is demanding all port automation be removed around the world.
He has said he will BURY the ocean carriers - presumably if he doesn't get his demands.
They were forced by the NLRB to return to the negotiating table after calling off any discussions in June.
4 people like this.
Reply 25 - Posted by:
swarfer 10/1/2024 4:08:35 PM (No. 1805655)
Don’t worry, toilet paper is not imported!
2 people like this.
Reply 26 - Posted by:
Kafka2 10/1/2024 5:26:08 PM (No. 1805693)
I hear they want a 79% increase in pay over four years plus other concessions. This would be very inflationary to say the least. The last time I checked, they were getting pretty good pay already.
3 people like this.
The head of the ILW has an obscene yacht, a real Thugboat.
This “Junta” is determined to destroy this country, and they are getting a LOT of help.
3 people like this.
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