Port workers along the East and Gulf coasts go on strike

Dozens of ports along the East and Gulf coasts of the US have shut down as thousands of dock workers strike over wages and technology that could replace jobs, according to CNBC. The strike, which began just past midnight on October 1st, could raise prices and make goods harder to get, depending on how long it lasts.

The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), a union that represents around 85,000 dock workers, called the strike after its contract with the US Maritime Alliance (USMX) — the organization backing port employers — expired early on Tuesday morning. The strike encompasses ports stretching from Maine to Texas.

Negotiations for a new contract are still ongoing, with the USMX proposing a 50 percent wage increase. Along with better pay, ILA workers are also fighting for protections against automation, which could eliminate the need for human crane operators and container truck drivers. The union also wants to get rid of cameras placed in workstations, saying it creates “a hostile work environment under the guise of safety.”

“We are prepared to fight as long as necessary, to stay out on strike for whatever period of time it takes, to get the wages and protections against automation our ILA members deserve,” ILA president Harold Daggett said in a statement posted to Facebook. “USMX owns this strike now... They now must meet our demands for this strike to end.”

The ILA last went on strike on the East Coast in 1977 for over six weeks. Estimates from J.P. Morgan suggest the current strike could cost the economy $3.8 billion to $4.5 billion for each day the ports are shut down, as noted by The Associated Press.

On Tuesday, President Joe Biden called on USMX to “negotiate a fair contract with the longshoremen that reflects the substantial contribution they’ve been making to our economic comeback.”