#port associations

[just2bruce]

ILA stops negotiations with USMX

The labor deal between US East and Gulf Coast ports and the International Longshoreman’s Association (ILA) may be unraveling. The current agreement expires at the end of September. It was a six-year deal. The major issue at present is an Auto Gate system Maersk and APM Terminals are using that processes trucks autonomously, with no ILA labor. The union claims this directly contradicts what was…

[iww-gnv]

Article date: September 30, 2024

NEW YORK -- The union representing U.S. dockworkers has signaled that 45,000 members will walk off the job at midnight, kicking off a massive strike likely to shut down ports across the East and Gulf coasts. The coming work stoppage threatens to significantly snarl the nation's supply chain, potentially leading to higher prices and delays for households and businesses if it drags on for weeks. That's because the strike by members of the International Longshoremen's Association could cause 36 ports — which handle roughly half of the goods shipped into and out of the U.S. — to shutter operations. ILA confirmed over the weekend that its members would hit the picket lines at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday. In a Monday update, the union continued to blame the United States Maritime Alliance, which represents the ports, for continuing to “to block the path” towards an agreement before the contract deadline. “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," ILA said in a prepared statement. “ILA longshore workers deserve to be compensated for the important work they do keeping American commerce moving and growing." ILA also accused shippers of “gouging their customers" with sizeable price increases for containers over recent weeks. The union said that this will result in increased costs for American consumers.

Read the rest here.

[averagejoey2000]

US East Coast ports are on strike. don't listen to what the conservatives say about this hurting the people, have solidarity with the laborers. any strike anywhere means that you might not get the shit you need or want, but that's why we need to put pressure on the company to sign the union's demands. hell, the port strike even affects me negatively as a Mariner because without longshoremen, my ship can't tie up and conduct cargo operations, but we've got to tough it out. Don't let the billionaires pass the cost along to you. Don't let the fearmongers say the port strike is to fuck up the people who need the medicine. Corporate decides when the strike ends.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Michael Sainato at The Guardian:

The US ports strike that shut down shipping on the east and Gulf coasts for three days came to an end on Thursday after dock workers struck a tentative deal with port operators. The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) announced that the union had reached an agreement with the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) on wages, suspending their walkout until January. Work would resume immediately, the union said. The strike – which involved 45,000 workers across 36 ports, from Texas to Maine – was the first to hit the east and Gulf coast ports of the US since 1977. The tentative agreement is for a wage hike of around 62%, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters. Both sides said in a statement they would return to the bargaining table to negotiate all outstanding issues. Concern had been mounting about the potential economic impact of the strike, and the threat of shortages. JP Morgan analysts estimated the walkout could cost the US economy as much as $5bn a day. After it emerged that the strike had ended, Joe Biden told reporters: “By the grace of God and goodwill of neighbors, it’s going to hold.”

“Today’s tentative agreement on a record wage and an extension of the collective bargaining process represents critical progress towards a strong contract,” the US president said in a statement. “I want to thank the union workers, the carriers, and the port operators for acting patriotically to reopen our ports and ensure the availability of critical supplies for Hurricane Helene recovery and rebuilding. “Collective bargaining works, and it is critical to building a stronger economy from the middle out and the bottom up.” Kamala Harris also praised the agreement, echoing Biden’s sentiment about the power of collective bargaining. “As I have said, this is about fairness – and our economy works best when workers share in record profits. Dockworkers deserve a fair share for their hard work getting essential goods out to communities across America,” Harris said in a statement. Negotiations between ILA and USMX had broken down in June after the union accused USMX of violating the contract by introducing automation at some ports.

After three days of ports along the Gulf Coast and East Coast got shut down due to the ILA strike, dock workers have agreed to a tentative deal and suspend their walkout until January 15th, 2025, 5 days before the winner of the 2024 Presidential election will begin their term.

See Also:

AP, via NewsNation: Dockworkers’ union to suspend strike until Jan. 15 to allow time to negotiate new contract

[lucythornwalter]

Port Strike 2024

Right on the heels of Helene we get a massive strike called by the International Longshoreman’s Association, which went into effect today and impacts ports on the east coast and in Texas. The ILA has not yet released their demands, but in their most recent statement from yesterday they highlighted the unfair nature of American shipping and the ways workers are fucked over for company profit. Same old same old.

What You Need To Know:

approximately 45,000 workers are on strike in US ports from Maine to Texas

immediate supply chain gaps will show up in things like imported produce - if you like bananas, stock up now, and freeze them or refrigerate them to maximize their usable lifespan

as of now we don’t know how we can support the strike, but check official ILA channels and accounts and their website linked above for updates

there will be a lot of bad press about this strike. I’ve already seen an article from Barron’s about how dockworkers make six figures but are demanding more. our enemies are NOT working people who make slightly more than we do! our enemies are the shipping companies and freight brokerages who make billions in profit while the ones who transport the goods make less than $1M/year! be prepared to advocate for workers who may be doing better than you’re personally doing - they don’t deserve less, YOU deserve more.

more on the strike from the Associated Press

UPDATE as of 12:00 EST 1 October 2024:

the ILA is asking for a 77% wage increase across the next 6 years and an end to all automation. the counteroffer that was rejected was a 50% increase and limits on automation.

will continue to update as new information emerges

[tankgotstuckinthecircusgate]

girl's honest desire to give moretti funeral business

[kaurwreck]

I've unilaterally decided that Chuuya has expansive irezumi beneath his shirt and frequents the Port Mafia's preferred horishi; Dazai does not, of course, because all irezumi is tattooed by hand and Dazai would rather die than sit for hours of tebori.

[wingling]

Friends and fam ! Another city, another set of environmental issues means another eco-bag. With this project, I have been very fortunate to collaborate with Wan Squad PNG in partnership with Surfing Association of Papua New Guinea and research help from Sub Pacific. Together we have created an eco-bag to promote sustainability and recycling in our home country. The goal is to develop behavioural change in Papua New Guinea, one city at a time starting here in Port Moresby. We have the privilege to live in one of the most beautiful landscapes in the world, and unfortunately our people sometimes lose sight of this, choosing to throw their garbage in our streets, in our parks and in our oceans. We’re hoping with this project to encourage our community to use these eco-bags to hold their trash until they are able to dispose of properly in an appropriate rubbish bin.

If you’re interested please contact us directly as soon as possible to purchase, we’ve only printed 100 bags here in Pom. We are selling the eco-bags for K60 / AUD$25 each and all proceeds will go to SAPNG to assist with developing the surf club and their Pink Nose Revolution. You can either contact myself or Wan Squad to purchase and collect an eco-bag. If you live overseas please let me know and I will organise postage from AU.

Thank you again for all the support and encouragement over the years, let’s work together to clean up our home 💚🇵🇬♻️ tenk u tru !

[johnjhalseth]

Shenandoah Valley Steam & Gas Engine Association Pageant of Steam Show

Port Huron Steam Engine.

Shenandoah Valley Steam and Gas Engine Association (svsgea.org)

[tactidoll]

ryback at the ruffles factory creating the chips

[istherewifiinhell]

give me a task that requires a power sander ANYDAY over the shit i had to do today. like sure the physical strain but i feel like the mental entertainment is... clearly apparent to anyone whose used one/can picture it and its the right kind of pervert with a real can do attitude.

[theamberarchive]

Cannot fucking believe it took running Curse of Strahd (the Amber Temple specifically), receiving a dnd character for a oneshot with their skin being described as tawny, and seriously considering changing my name to Amber (in reference to RotE) to realise that the Fool chose the name Amber for their female persona in Bingtown because that's the colour of her skin.

[reversetimelord]

I respect your gender identity but not the fact you fucking suck at video games

[djarinova]

if O2 has a million haters I'm one of them. If O2 has a hundred haters I'm one of them. If O2 has one hater it's me. If O2 has 0 haters I am dead. If the world is against O2 I am with the world, if the world is for O2 I am against the world.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Lori Ann Larocco at CNBC:

Billions in trade came to a screeching halt at U.S. East Coast and Gulf Coast ports after members of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) began walking off the job after 12:01 a.m. ET on October 1. The ILA is North America’s largest longshoremen’s union, with roughly 50,000 of its 85,000 members making good on the threat to strike at 14 major ports subject to a just-expired master contract with the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX), and picketing workers beginning to appear at ports. The union and port ownership group failed to reach agreement by midnight on a new contract in a protracted battle over wage increases and use of automation. In a last-ditch effort on Monday to avert a strike that will cause significant harm to the U.S. economy if it is lengthy — at least hundreds of millions of dollars a day at the largest ports like New York/New Jersey — the USMX offered a nearly 50% wage hike over six years, but that was rejected by the ILA, according to a source close to the negotiations. The port ownership group said it hoped the offer would lead to a resumption of collective bargaining.

The 14 ports where preparations for a strike have been underway are Boston, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, Wilmington, North Carolina, Baltimore, Norfolk, Charleston, Savannah, Jacksonville, Tampa, Miami, New Orleans, Mobile, and Houston. New York Governor Kathy Hochul said in a statement issued shortly after midnight that “the first large-scale eastern dockworker strike in 47 years began at ports from Maine to Texas, including at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. In preparation for this moment, New York has been working around the clock to ensure that our grocery stores and medical facilities have the essential products they need.” Rhetoric from ILA leadership has been aggressive in the weeks leading up to the strike, with ILA president Harold Daggett, who was a union member the last time it went out on strike in 1977, telling rank-and-file members — who unanimously voted to authorize a strike — in a recent video message, “We’ll crush them.” 

[...] The most significant issues would be faced by food and automobile industries, Kamins said, as they rely especially heavily on the ports that will be shut down. While a surge in inflation is highly unlikely even with a longer strike, even a modest reacceleration could create uncertainty and force the Federal Reserve to be more cautious about lowering interest rates, which would weigh on the overall outlook for job growth and investment. A one-week strike could cost the U.S. economy $3.78 billion, according to an analysis by The Conference Board, and cause supply chain slowdowns through mid-November. In all, the ports threatened with strikes handle $3 trillion annually in U.S. annual international trade.

Many industries are preparing for major repercussions. Noushin Shamsili, CEO and president of Nuco Logistics, which specializes in pharmaceutical imports and exports, said the strike comes at a critical time for inventory replenishment for the pharma sector. “Almost all of this industry is just on time,” said Shamsili. “Raw materials are being brought in to complete drug manufacturing. Medical supplies for clinics and hospitals are on these vessels. For a while importers did not bring in a lot of cargo because they were overflowing with supplies post-Covid. Now they have started reordering medical devices, gloves, syringes, and tubing.” Shamsili also said the East Coast ports are a gateway for generic medicine made in India. Approximately 48% of the active pharmaceutical ingredients used in the U.S. are being imported from India. Without these APIs, medications cannot be produced. APIs are also manufactured in Europe, which also use the East Coast ports as U.S. points of entry.

[...] The Biden administration finds itself in a delicate political moment, with the presidential election one month away and President Biden vowing he will not use existing labor law to force union workers back on the job, which is within his powers under the Taft-Hartley Act. The Taft-Hartley Act, passed in 1947, was a revision of U.S. law governing labor relations and union activity that granted a U.S. president the power to suspend a strike for an 80-day “cooling off period” in cases where “national health or safety” are at risk. 

Today begins the strike along East Coast and Gulf Coast ports after International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) members walked off their jobs.

This strike, depending on how long it lasts, could have a major impact on the elections and the economy.

[caymannewsservice]

Bryan to meet with cruise bosses as port calls fall

Kenneth Bryan at pro-port demo in October (Photo credit: Advancement of Cruise Tourism) (CNS): Tourism and Ports Minister Kenneth Bryan and senior officials from his ministry are attending the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Conference and Tradeshow in St Maarten this week. The visit comes against the backdrop of decreasing cruise ship calls and a proposed referendum next year asking…