45,000 Dockworkers Strike at US Ports Over Wage Disputes and Automation Concerns
October 1, 2024
By Okafor Joseph Afam
Dockworkers across the United States launched a nationwide strike on Tuesday, marking the first major labor stoppage by the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) since 1977. The strike, driven by disputes over wages and automation, comes after the workers’ contract expired at midnight, prompting approximately 45,000 members to walk off the job.
The strike is affecting 36 ports from Maine to Texas and is expected to disrupt the supply chain, potentially reigniting inflation and causing shortages if it continues for several weeks, according to the Associated Press.
In Philadelphia, picketing began shortly after midnight, with workers chanting, “No work without a fair contract,” as they marched at a rail crossing near the port. A truck displaying the message, “Automation Hurts Families: ILA Stands for Job Protection,” underscored the workers’ key demand.
Boise Butler, local ILA president, emphasized that the union is fighting to secure a contract that guarantees job protection against automation. “Shipping companies made billions during the pandemic by charging high prices,” Butler said. “Now, we want them to pay back. They’re going to pay back.”
The strike, he added, would last as long as necessary to secure a fair deal, with dockworkers being critical to the economy.
At Port Houston, about 50 workers joined the picket line, carrying signs echoing the same demand for fair wages and job protection. The U.S. Maritime Alliance, representing the ports, acknowledged that both sides had revised their wage proposals but failed to reach a settlement.
The ILA’s initial proposal sought a 77% wage increase over six years, arguing that this was essential to offset inflation and years of stagnant pay. In response, the alliance offered a 50% raise over six years, along with a promise to maintain current limits on automation from the previous contract. However, the union is demanding a complete ban on automation, leaving the two sides at an impasse.
Despite hopes for a resolution, the ILA rejected the alliance’s latest offer early Tuesday, stating that it “fell far short” of the dockworkers’ demands for higher wages and robust protections against automation. ILA President Harold Daggett reaffirmed that the union is prepared to strike as long as necessary until their demands are fully met.
