DOCKWORKERS STRIKE: ‘We Will Cripple You…and you have no idea what that means. Nobody does.’

In yet another epic failure of the Harris-Biden regime, tens of thousands of dock workers at ports along the East and Gulf coasts walked off the job at midnight on Tuesday, a massive strike that brings billions of dollars in trade to a dead stop.

The International Longshoremen’s Association launched the strike after port ownership failed to meet its demands for higher wages and address the union’s objections to port automation. Negotiations broke down over the summer and the two sides are still at an impasse.

Dockworkers’ demands include a ban on automation and a 77% increase in wages. The whole process should be automated.  This will have devastating effects on our nation’s economy because of supply chain issues.

Why hasn’t the Harris-Biden stepped in and required arbitration?

WATCH: Longshoreman Harold Dagget, “I will cripple you, and you have no idea what that means. Nobody does.”

Dockworkers from Maine to Texas go on strike in move that could spark economic doom

By Ariel Zilber

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 at a rail crossing outside the port and chanting, “No work without a fair contract.”

The union had message boards on the side of a truck reading: “Automation Hurts Families: ILA Stands For Job Protection.”

The US Maritime Alliance, which represents the ports, said Monday evening that both sides had moved off their previous wage offers, but when picket lines went up just after midnight, it was apparent that no deal had been reached.

The union’s opening offer in the talks was for a 77% pay raise over the six-year life of the contract, with president Harold Daggett saying it’s necessary to make up for inflation and years of small raises.

ILA members make a base salary of about $81,000 per year, but some can pull in over $200,000 annually with large amounts of overtime.

But Monday evening, the alliance said it had increased its offer to 50% raises over six years, and it pledged to keep limits on automation in place from the old contract.

“We are hopeful that this could allow us to fully resume collective bargaining around the other outstanding issues in an effort to reach an agreement,” the alliance statement said.

The union didn’t answer requests for comment on the talks Monday night, but said earlier in the day that the ports had refused demands for a fair contract and the alliance seemed intent on a strike. The two sides had not held formal negotiations since June.

The alliance said its offer tripled employer contributions to retirement plans and strengthened health care options.

During the day Monday, some ports already were preparing for a strike. The Port of Virginia, for instance, was in the process of ceasing operations.

Continue reading.

AUTHOR

Pamela Geller

EDITORS NOTE: This Geller Report is republished with permission. ©All rights reserved.