After the International Longshoreman's Association put any strike action on pause ahead of the Presidential election it appeared that the threat would return in early January.
But maybe not.
From the Associated Press via the Boston Herald, December 12:
Trump offers support for dockworkers union by saying ports shouldn’t install more automated systems
“I’ve studied automation, and know just about everything there is to know about it,” Trump posted.
President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday voiced his support for the dockworkers union before their contract expires next month at Eastern and Gulf Coast ports, saying that any further “automation” of the ports would harm workers.
The incoming president posted on social media that he met Harold Daggett, the president of the International Longshoreman’s Association, and Dennis Daggett, the union’s executive vice president.
“I’ve studied automation, and know just about everything there is to know about it,” Trump posted. “The amount of money saved is nowhere near the distress, hurt, and harm it causes for American Workers, in this case, our Longshoremen. Foreign companies have made a fortune in the U.S. by giving them access to our markets. They shouldn’t be looking for every last penny knowing how many families are hurt.”
The International Longshoremen’s Association has until Jan. 15 to negotiate a new contract with the U.S. Maritime Alliance, which represents ports and shipping companies.
At the heart of the dispute is whether ports can install automated gates, cranes and container-moving trucks that could make it faster to unload and load ships. The union argues that automation would lead to fewer jobs, even though higher levels of productivity could do more to boost the salaries of remaining workers.
The Maritime Alliance said in a statement that the contract goes beyond ports to “supporting American consumers and giving American businesses access to the global marketplace – from farmers, to manufacturers, to small businesses, and innovative start-ups looking for new markets to sell their products.”
“To achieve this, we need modern technology that is proven to improve worker safety, boost port efficiency, increase port capacity, and strengthen our supply chains,” said the alliance, adding that it looks forward to working with Trump.
In October, the union representing 45,000 dockworkers went on strike for three days, raising the risk that a prolonged shutdown could push up inflation by making it difficult to unload container ships and export American products overseas....
....MUCH MORE
Previously:
December 9 - Shipping: American Ports Are Stuck In The Stone Age
If you are going into hunker-down mode ahead of the resumption of the strike the first affected products will be automobiles, beef and bananas:
The U.S. Bananapocalypse Is Nigh
The Longshoreman's Strike As An Example Of Greedflation (ILA)
I am all for private sector unions and have written favorably about them* but this guy leading the longshoreman union sounds a bit whack....And back in 2018:
"Where can you get paid $466K a year to wash trucks? Special deals, union clout at N.J. port"
Here's
the President of the International Longshoreman's Association stating
flat-out that he will cripple the U.S. economy (beginning at 15:06):
