Tens of thousands of dock workers along the East Coast expressed their frustrations as they hit the picket lines Tuesday morning in a massive strike that has shut down billions of dollars in trade.
The International Longshoremen’s Association launched the strike at midnight after port ownership failed to meet its demands for higher wages and address the union’s objections to port automation.
“We are ILA!” union members chanted on the picket line at some ports.
They held signs reading, “Corporate greed or worker rights. ILA demands fairness,” “Automation hurts families,” and “ILA workers over machines. Defend our jobs and rights.”
Dock workers striking at port of Savannah, Georgia pic.twitter.com/9W7Q2nNGm9
— Mairead Elordi (@JohnsonHildy) October 1, 2024
🧵Dock worker strike begins!
I went down to the Philadelphia port and captured the scene.
45k union members with the International Longshoremen's Association walked off the job at midnight, halting billions in trade pic.twitter.com/g1Hkn5PohN
— Mairead Elordi (@JohnsonHildy) October 1, 2024
About 45,000 dock workers are refusing to work, which will snarl supply chains and choke off nearly 50% of U.S. imports. A total of 14 ports are affected, including the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and the ports in Boston, Philadelphia, Wilmington, North Carolina, Baltimore, Norfolk, Charleston, Savannah, Jacksonville, Tampa, Miami, New Orleans, Mobile, and Houston.
Daggett, the union boss, joined dock workers on the picket line at Port Authority in New Jersey, where he delivered expletive-laden rallying cries and had heated responses for reporters.
“This is going down in history, what we’re doing here,” Daggett said. “Who’s the greedy one here? These companies over in Europe. They don’t give a f*** about us. We’re going to show them they’re going to have to give a f*** about us cause nothing’s going to move without us.”
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“We’re going to keep this thing going,” Daggett said. “We’re going to be on the news. We’re going to win this f***ing thing, trust me. They can’t survive too long, and we’re going to get what the f*** we deserve, believe me. God bless all of you for being here.”
When a reporter remarked the strike would “grind the economy to a halt” and asked if Daggett was worried it would hurt the “everyday American,” Daggett responded, “Not us, they are. Don’t spin it now. … Now you start to realize who the longshoremen are, right? People never gave a s*** about us until now.”
President of the International Longshoremen’s Association, Harold J. Daggett, 100% means business:
"People never gave a s*** about us until now. When they finally realized that the chain is being broke now … You know how many people depend on our jobs. Half the world! It's… pic.twitter.com/dQalTgbgsQ
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) October 1, 2024
Since the threat of a strike started making headlines, Daggett’s alleged mafia ties and over $900,000 income have come under scrutiny. Daggett also reportedly used to own a yacht named “Obsession” and has been spotted driving around in a Bentley.
Daggett endorsed President Joe Biden, and the ILA has donated more than $1.6 million to Democrats on Daggett’s watch. However, Daggett began lashing out at Biden as the strike grew near.
Biden has the authority under the Taft-Hartley Act to force union workers to stay on the job for another 80 days, but Biden has made clear that he has no intention of getting involved.
Another one of the country’s most powerful unions, the Teamsters, released an expletive-laden statement Monday evening supporting the dock worker union, saying they are “100% committed” to standing with the dock workers and that the ocean carriers are “on strike against themselves.”
“The U.S. government should stay the f*** out of this fight and allow union workers to withhold their labor for the wages and benefits they have earned,” the Teamsters said in their statement. On Tuesday, Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien walked the picket line with dock workers in Boston.
The dock worker union vowed to remain on the picket lines for as long as it takes.
“We plan on being here 24/7 until we finalize or get a good contract from the shippers. The plan right now is, we’re just looking for a fair contract, and we’re fighting automation. It’s pretty simple,” Bernie O’Donnell, vice president for the union’s New England area, told local news in Boston.
The ILA is not answering questions, only reiterating why they’re going on strike.
Brief comment tonight from Bernie ODonnell, international Vice President for the union’s New England area. @NBC10Boston pic.twitter.com/XnibBpZWZt
— Kirsten Glavin (@kirstenglavin) October 1, 2024
The strike is “terrifying” for companies that import goods, said Ryan Peterson, founder of Flexport, a supply chain management company. For consumers, a longer strike could mean higher prices, he said.
“If this drags on for weeks or heaven forbid months, I think you will certainly see increases in prices and shortages in all kinds of goods,” Peterson said on Fox News.
Peterson also warned that the union’s demands would hit Americans’ wallets.
“A 30-70% increase in cost of labor would tank most businesses. But ports are a monopolist, so all the cost increases will get passed on to the carriers who pass it on to the merchants who pass it on to you, the consumer,” Peterson posted on X.
Negotiations broke down over the summer and the union rejected a last-minute offer from port ownership, represented by the United States Maritime Alliance, which offered the union a nearly 50% wage raise.
However, a deal may be near since the union is seeking a 61.5% raise over a six year contract, down from the 77% they initially asked for. Daggett said in a statement Tuesday that they are demanding a $5-an-hour increase in wages for each of the six years of a new contract, plus “absolute airtight language that there will be no automation or semi-automation” and that “all Container Royalty monies” go to the union.
