At midnight on October 1, nearly 50,000 dockworkers across the US’s East Coast walked off the job, shutting down ports across the coastline across cities including Boston, New York, Miami, and Houston. This is the International Longshoremen’s Association’s (ILA) first strike since 1977.
BREAKING – Over 45k union dockworkers with ILA are officially on strike, shutting down all East and Gulf coast ports, from New York to Miami to Houston. They’re standing to protect their future against the shipping companies forcing automation on the docks. pic.twitter.com/BnRqZzkHqT
— On the Line (@laborontheline) October 1, 2024
ILA dockworkers are a lynchpin of the US economy. Ports affected by the strike include the Port of New York and New Jersey, the nation’s third largest port in terms of the volume of cargo. “When my men hit the streets from Maine to Texas, every single port will lockdown,” said ILA President Harold Daggett. “Everything in the United States comes on a ship.”
Dagget emphasized that the only way out of the strike is through a fair agreement between workers and the companies that makeup the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX). “You’re better off sitting down, and let’s get a contract, and let’s move on with this world. In today’s world, I’ll cripple you.”
According to the ILA, the USMX are continuing “to block the path toward a settlement on a new Master Contract by refusing ILA’s demands for a fair and decent contract.” USMX member companies include some of the largest shipping companies in the world, such as the multi-billion dollar shipping giant Maersk and the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC).
At the Newark port picket line, someone wears a shirt saying dockworkers of the world unite! Moments later, a UPS Teamster drives by and hooks his horn to cheers. Support striking ILA members ! Solidarity. pic.twitter.com/3kJZdlkIow
— Luis Feliz Leon (@Lfelizleon) October 1, 2024
ILA dockworkers argue that it was their hard work, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, that resulted in billions of dollars in profits for the shipping industry. Industry profits soared past USD 400 billion from 2020-2023, according to analyst John McCown, which is believed to be the largest profits in the industry since 1957.
“We are not going to entertain any sob stories from employers during negotiations about a sluggish economy,” said President Daggett.
The ILA is demanding a wage increase in light of these immense profits made off the backs of dockworkers, as well as protections from the looming threat of automation that could chip away at unionized work. “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,” stated the union.
Due to the collective power dockworkers hold in the US economy, there is speculation that US President Biden could invoke the 1947 Taft-Hartley Act to force workers back to the docks. The White House seems to be against intervening in the strike in any way, though conservative lawmakers are calling on the President to force workers back on the job.
President Daggett indicated that the only way out of the strike is for USMX to come to a fair agreement with workers, threatening a slowdown if Biden decides to invoke Taft-Hartley. “Taft-Hartley means I have to go back to work [for 80 days] after a cooling off period,” said Daggett. “What do you think when I go back after those [80 days], that those men are going to go back to work on that pier? It’s going to cost them money…You’re better off sitting down and let’s get a contract and let’s move on with this.”
The US government infamously forced rail workers back on the job in 2022, breaking their strike and forcing employees to work without the sick days they had been fighting for. Some link the lack of sick pay and time to rest for railroad workers to devastating train derailments, such as the derailment in East Palestine, Ohio that generated a public health catastrophe due to the release of toxic fumes.
Other major unions in the US have rushed to stand in solidarity with ILA dockworkers. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters warned the White House against intervening in the strike. “The US government should stay the f**k out of this fight and allow union workers to withhold their labor for the wages and benefits they have earned,” the Teamsters asserted. “Any workers on the road, in the ports, in the air should be able to fight for a better life free of government interference. Corporations for too long have been able to rely on political puppets to help them strip working people of their inherent leverage.”
On the Line interviewed ILA dockworkers on the picket line in Charleston, South Carolina. “All working class people are under attack, and greed is the number one enemy,” said ATL Mapp, a worker and member of ILA Local 1422. “We cannot continue to sit here and let greed take us out, automation to come and take our jobs.”
