JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Dockworkers at 36 ports across the eastern United States are on strike for the first time in decades, a work stoppage that could snarl supply chains and cause shortages and higher prices if it stretches on for more than a few weeks.
On Tuesday, members of the International Longshoremen Association (ILA) Local 1408 took to the streets, picketing along Heckscher and New Berlin in Jacksonville, just steps away from their usual place of work. Tens of thousands of workers along the East Coast are now on strike, demanding a fair contract with the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX).
The strike is over wages and the ports’ use of automation, though some progress was reported in negotiations over a new contract. The existing contract between the ports and about 45,000 members of the International Longshoremen’s Association expired at midnight on Monday.
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The ILA workers were spotted holding signs and making their message clear: they are not backing down until they secure fair wages and better working conditions. Shirts worn by the strikers read, “If it’s a fight they want, war is what they’re going to get.” They say their fight is for fairness, and they are prepared to stand their ground.
Local 1408 President Warren Smith was on the front lines of this strike, standing side by side with dozens of longshoremen in the sweltering heat. While on strike, they won’t receive pay, but that isn’t stopping them.
“We are out here for our families and our dignity,” Warren Smith, President ILA Local 1408 said. “We deserve better wages, safer working conditions, and we’re not going to be replaced by robots, that’s absolutely out of the question.”
According to ILA headquarters, USMX’s ocean carriers are profiting billions, but longshore workers’ wages have stagnated, unable to keep up with inflation. As long as the strike continues, imports of automobiles, produce, and retail products could become increasingly scarce in local stores.
While the U.S. government could intervene using the Taft-Hartley Act, no action has been taken so far.
The White House, however, released a statement from President Joe Biden.
“Collective bargaining is the best way for workers to secure fair pay and benefits. I have urged USMX, which represents foreign-owned carriers, to offer the ILA workers a fair deal, recognizing the invaluable contributions these workers make.”
President Joe Biden
“We need strong leadership to bring both parties to the table,” Jim Mirabella, Precision Sciences and Operations Management Professor at Jacksonville University said. “This cannot go on.”
Locally, Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT) acknowledged the impact of the strike, stating that it anticipates disruptions to about one-third of its business, including international container and vehicle volumes.
“We are closely monitoring the situation and remain in contact with terminal operators using ILA labor. The strike is expected to impact international container volumes and vehicle shipments.”
Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT)
The workers are not just fighting for wages but also their jobs. The introduction of automation, artificial intelligence, and robots threatens to replace them, a point Smith stressed.
“It’s not just about wages,” Smith said. “Robots are being tested to replace our jobs, and USMX is trying to insert language into the contract that allows them to do so.”
Until their demands are met, dockworkers say they are committed to striking for as long as it takes.