Just under 50,000 members of the International Longshoremen’s Association went on strike at midnight Tuesday. They are on strike against the East and Gulf Coast ports, from New England to Texas coming together demanding higher pay and job security.
President of the ILA Harold Daggett said, “If we have to be out here a month or two months, this world will collapse…go blame them. Don’t blame me, blame them.”
He continued on social media saying, “USMX brought on this strike when they decided to hold firm to foreign-owned ocean carriers earning billion-dollar profits at United States ports, but not compensate the American ILA longshore workers who perform the labor that brings them their wealth…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.”
Despite this, the United States Maritime Alliance, or USMX, is proud of its current salaries. They released a statement saying, “USMX is proud of the wages and benefits we offer to our 25,000 ILA employees, and strongly supports a collective bargaining process that allows us to fully bargain wages, benefits, technology, and ensures the safety of our workers, day-in and day-out… We have demonstrated a commitment to doing our part to end the completely avoidable ILA strike. Our current offer of a nearly 50% wage increase exceeds every other recent union settlement while addressing inflation, and recognizing the ILA’s hard work to keep the global economy running.”
This strike will stop the flow of all goods from food to clothing, and with the holidays right around the corner, government officials may need to step in and settle things.
