About 45,000 dockworkers will walk off the job on Tuesday if port ownership does not meet the union’s demands on wages and port automation, shuttering 36 ports on the East and Gulf Coasts.
If they do, Americans could experience supply chain disruptions through Election Day and well into the holiday season.
The Daily Wire has been covering the coming strike, from the details of the contract dispute and how it could disrupt supply chains, to information about the colorful Democratic head of the dock workers union and his clash with President Joe Biden, who refuses to block the strike.
Here’s everything you need to know before the strike begins.
Why the Dockworkers Strike Could Impact You
In the latest episode of FACTS, Daily Wire Editor Emeritus Ben Shapiro takes a look at the recent dockworkers’ strike, setting the stage for a broader exploration of the history of strikes in America. He examines the motivations behind these labor actions, their impacts on the economy, and how they have shaped American history. Join Ben as he explores the significance of strikes, illuminating key moments, influential figures, and important laws, while discussing how these developments can affect your life today.
The Strike Comes After Months of Contentious Negotiations.
Negotiations broke down in June between the International Longshoremen’s Association, which represents about 85,000 dock workers nationwide, and the United States Maritime Alliance, which represents port management. The two sides are in a stalemate over both wages and the automation of port operations.
A Strike Could Impact Everything From Coffee to Christmas Trees.
About three-quarters of banana imports to the U.S. arrive at ports that would be affected by a strike, as would pharmaceutical imports — a third of which are routed through the port in Charleston, South Carolina. The National Tree Company, which sells artificial Christmas trees and other decorations, has rushed to import goods early to beat the strike, but expects to see 15% of its goods stranded if a port strike happens.
The Dockworker’s Union Has Given $8 million to Democrats.
The ILA has donated more than $1.6 million to Democrats on Harold Daggett’s watch, and more than $8 million to Democrats in total. Federal prosecutors in 2004 alleged a mob conspiracy to elect Daggett head of the union, and the leader is still suspected in a separate but related racketeering case that also involves the mob.
Biden May Let the Strike Happen to Hurt Kamala.
Presidents have the authority to block strikes that could pose national security problems, but the White House is adamant that Biden will not intervene. Some say his inaction is retribution for Harris’s role in ousting him from the presidential ticket, while others think he’s trying to appease a powerful union as union membership abandons Democrats in droves.
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