#port strike

[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.

[blackirishweab]

It’s strike time again, so this is your strikely reminder that the workers fighting for fair pay aren’t the ones inconveniencing you, their bosses are. Never blame workers for the effects of their bosses’ incompetence and greed.

[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.

[love-hayley]

Hearing about the possible port strike makes me nervous especially being on the east coast. Why can’t these business just pay ppl always trynna underpay people

[book-of-life]

Ezekiel 4:16-17

Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, behold, I will break the staff of bread in Jerusalem: and they shall eat bread by weight, and with care; and they shall drink water by measure, and with astonishment: [17] that they may want bread and water, and be astonished one with another, and consume away for their iniquity.

Biblical famine is coming to America.

[gwydionmisha]

US dockworkers strike, halting half the nation's ocean shipping

[erebusvincent]

This might be the greediest union yet, although competition is notoriously stiff.

[amethystsoda]

USA friends— the port strike is likely happening starting midnight tomorrow, so if you have any medical items/shelf stable items/electronics like chargers that are usually imported, now is the time to grab extras (if possible)

[loveinstreams]

SAG AFTRA DEAL REACHED❗️RELEASE MICHAEL SHEEN ❗️

[n0maku]

mr ultrakill

[oyatochie]

🎶♪🎺🦈

[bluesylveon2]

Two younger brothers trying to impress their older brother, illustrated:

Jack's plan:

Ruggie's plan:

[luciuscodedswedeboy]

[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

[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.

[blueiscoool]

Russian Submarine Destroyed

The significant damage sustained by a Russian Navy Kilo class diesel-electric attack submarine after a Ukrainian cruise missile strike last week. The Kilo class boat, together with a Ropucha class landing ship, had been in dry dock in the Black Sea port of Sevastopol, in Russian-occupied Crimea, when it came under attack in the early hour of September 13.

The submarine in question is the Rostov-on-Don (B-237), an Improved Kilo boat, from the Project 636.3 class, which is capable of launching Kalibr land attack cruise missiles, of the type widely used against targets in Ukraine. This submarine entered service in 2014 and is one of four of its type with the Black Sea Fleet.