Port workers go on strike, what to know about possible delays
The 50,000 members of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) went on strike Tuesday for the first time in nearly 50 years after not being able to come to an agreement with the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX.)
The 36 ports will be affected across the East Coast from Maine to Texas, including the Port of South Carolina in Charleston.
The strike, which began at midnight, comes on the heels of Hurricane Helene’s devastation across the Southeast and is expected to exacerbate delays from temporary port closures.
A range of products could be impacted, including produce, auto and machinery, clothing, pharmaceuticals, or seafood. A JPMorgan analysis projected the strike could cost the U.S. economy $5 billion daily, according to USATODAY.
The union asked for higher wages and a ban on certain automated machinery. The union asked for a 77% pay raise for a six-year contract.
More: Helene: More than 6,650 power lines damaged in Upstate; when will electricity return?
“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”, the ILA said in a statement. “ILA longshore workers deserve to be compensated for the important work they do keeping American commerce moving and growing. It’s disgraceful that most of these foreign-owned shipping companies are engaged in a ‘Make and Take’ operation: They want to make their billion-dollar profits at United States ports, and off the backs of American ILA longshore workers, and take those earnings out of this country and into the pockets of foreign conglomerates. Meanwhile, ILA dedicated longshore workers continue to be crippled by inflation due to USMX’s unfair wage packages."
The impact of the strike depends on how long it lasts. The longer it continues, the worse shortages will be as the port will recover from longer delays as imports and exports are blocked.
“In addition, the shippers are gouging their customers that result in increased costs to American consumers. They are now charging $30,000 for a full container, a whopping increase from $6,000 per container just a few weeks ago. In just a short time, they went from 6,000 to 18,000, then 24,000, and now $30,000. It’s unheard of and they are doubling their $30,000 fee stuffing the same container from multiple shippers. They are killing the customers,” the ILA said.
Savannah Moss covers SC government and politics. Reach her at smoss@gannett.com or follow her on X @Savmoss.
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Port workers go on strike including Charleston
