Liam Saranich | News Editor
Nearly 50,000 members of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) are on strike Tuesday against the nation’s East and Guld Coast ports, stopping the flow of many of America's imports and exports in what could be the country’s most disruptive work stoppage in decades.
The strike began a few days again and will stop the flow of a wide variety of goods over the docks of almost all cargo ports from Maine to Texas. This will include bananas, European beer, wine and liquor, along with furniture, clothing, household goods and European autos, as well as parts needed to keep us factories operating and American workers in those plants on the job, among many other goods. It will also stop many US exports now flowing through those ports, hurting sales for American companies.
The USMX said Tuesday afternoon in its first public comments since the strike that it was proud of its offer to the union.
“USMX is proud of the wages and benefits we offer to our 25,000 ILA employees, and strongly supports a collective bargaining process that allows us to fully bargain wages, benefits, technology, and ensures the safety of our workers, day-in and day-out,” the group said in a statement. “We have demonstrated a commitment to doing our part to end the completely avoidable ILA strike. Our current offer of nearly 50% wage increase exceeds every other recent union settlement, while addressing inflation, and recognizing the ILA’s hard work to keep the global economy running.”
Depending on how long the strike lasts for, it could result in shortages of consumer and industrial goods, which could then lead to price hikes. It could also mark a setback to the economy, which has shown signs of recovery from pandemic-induced supply chain disruptions that resulted in a spike in inflation.
Comments