About 45,000 dockworkers plan to walk off the job on Tuesday, hobbling the supply chain and throwing a wrench into the presidential election.
The International Longshoremen’s Association will launch a massive strike if port ownership does not meet the union’s demands for higher wages and address their objections to port automation. Negotiations broke down over the summer and the two sides are still at an impasse.
The strike will shutter 36 ports on the East and Gulf Coasts, choking off nearly half of all U.S. imports and costing the economy billions of dollars a day. Depending on how long the strike lasts, Americans could see shortages and delays past the election and into the holiday season.
Bananas, coffee, cocoa, pharmaceuticals, clothing, furniture, vehicles, and even Christmas decorations are among the products that will be affected. As far as American exports, beef, poultry, pork, eggs, and cotton will be impacted as well.
Supply chain shortages could cause prices to rise just as families are trying to recover from the nearly 20% spike in prices since before the pandemic.
The U.S. Maritime Alliance, which represents port ownership, said in a statement, “we value the work of the ILA and have great respect for its members. We have a shared history of working together and are committed to bargaining.”
However, the alliance also filed an Unfair Labor Practice charge accusing the union of refusing to come to the table and negotiate. The current contract expires Monday.
On Sunday and Monday, the union reaffirmed its plans to strike in statements on social media, saying that port ownership continues to “block” a “fair and decent contract and seems intent on causing a strike at all ports from Maine to Texas.”
“The Ocean Carriers represented by USMX want to enjoy rich billion-dollar profits that they are making in 2024, while they offer ILA Longshore Workers an unacceptable wage package that we reject,” the union said Monday. “ILA longshore workers deserve to be compensated for the important work they do keeping American commerce moving and growing.
Dock workers will hit the streets at midnight on October 1, the union said.
The union added that it is “disgraceful” that foreign shipping companies want to make billion dollar profits at U.S. ports while longshore workers are “crippled by inflation” due to “unfair wage packages.”
“In addition, the shippers are gouging their customers that result in increased costs to American consumers … They are killing the customers,” the union said.
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President Joe Biden indicated that he has no intention of stepping in and stopping the strike, which he could do under the Taft-Hartley Act, which allows the president to prevent strikes that would threaten national security or health. This would force union workers to stay on the job for another 80 days.
On Sunday, Biden responded to a question about Israel’s strikes in Yemen by talking about the impending labor strike.
“I’ve spoken to both sides. They’ve got to settle the strike. I support the collective bargaining effort. I think they’ll settle the strike,” Biden told reporters on the tarmac.
No negotiations are scheduled before the strike is set to begin on Tuesday.
Even a one-day strike would snarl supply chains for six days, according to industry insiders. A longer strike would take weeks or months to recover from.
Meanwhile, the economy and inflation are top issues on voters’ minds this presidential election, now just five weeks away.
Vice President Kamala Harris has struggled to win over voters with her economic message, with polls showing that a majority of voters favor former President Donald Trump on the economy.
