The White House and the International Longshoreman’s Association have agreed to suspend the Dockworkers strike until January 15th, 2025; resuming shipping trade and commerce on the Gulf and East coasts of the United States.
On October 1st, 2024, members of the ILA went on strike across the United States for the first time in 50 years. 45,000 dock workers went on strike in ports ranging from Texas to Maine. Cargo shipments en route to the US were halted, putting sea trade and commerce to a standstill.
The decision to go on strike occurred due to workers’ concerns about automation and lower wages. The ILA for a few years has proposed a 77% pay raise. The contract between the ILA and ports expired on October 1st with no new contract being signed. The older contract stated that automation would not be implemented in the dockworking process. However, ports across the US have drawn up plans to institute automation into their workplaces. Many dockworkers have protested that automation will take away their jobs.
Dockworkers at the Port of Philadelphia have picket signs saying “No work without a fair contract” and others reading “Automation Hurts Families; ILA Stands for Job Protection.” Dockworkers in Newark, New Jersey have also displayed signs reading “No To Automation! Machines DON’T have families to feed.”
Many Americans were worried about increases in inflation, prices, and shortages heading into the holiday season. The suspension until January will ensure that trade will last through the holiday season and avoid empty shelves in grocery stores.
