In mid-January, shortly before the former president returned to the Oval Office, President-elect Trump supported longshore workers' unions preparing to strike over automation.
President Trump said in a post on Truth Social on Thursday that he had just met with the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA), president Harold Daggett and executive vice president Dennis Daggett.
“There has been a lot of discussion on US docks related to 'automation'. I have researched automation and know just about everything there is to know about it. “and the damage it does to American workers, in this case longshore workers,” Trump wrote. post.
Automation is loosely defined as the use of technology to perform tasks with reduced human involvement. At the port, This might look like this Replace manually operated diesel cranes with electric, remotely operated cranes.
The union, which represents more than 40,000 dockworkers, went on a three-day strike in October over automation, with many questioning whether their jobs would be replaced by robots. . ILA old contractThis included a clause that would require the union's permission if the port added automation, but at the time the union wanted “strict language that no automation or semi-automation will be undertaken.”Harold Daggett said:.
However, the strike was suspended after the Biden administration helped reach an agreement to extend the contract until January 15th. reported According to the Washington Post.
Associated Press reported “A prolonged shutdown could make it difficult to unload container ships and export U.S. products overseas, potentially pushing up inflation,'' the statement said, largely because the election campaign promised to cut costs and curb inflation. This could be a cause for concern for President Trump, who has been active in this area.
washington post reported Analysts say the strike could cost the U.S. economy up to $1 billion a day.
