So the much-feared dock strike is over before panic even really set in. Is this a crisis averted — or pure political gamesmanship?
Well, probably the latter.
The International Longshoremen’s Association, the dockworkers’ union, reached a temporary agreement with their employers for a 62% pay raise. All other issues, however, will go to the back burner until they renew negotiations for their Master Contract in January. In the meantime, they will return to work. (RELATED: Negotiators Reach Agreement To Suspend Port Strike)
How convenient …
Dockworkers are on strike in Port Newark on October 1, 2024 in New Jersey. Officials at 14 ports along the US East and Gulf Coasts were making last-minute preparations on September 30 for a likely labor strike that could drag on the US economy just ahead of a presidential election — despite last-minute talks. (Photo by Bryan R. SMITH / AFP) (Photo by BRYAN R. SMITH/AFP via Getty Images)
A once-in-a-generation strike with the potential to cripple the national economy was averted weeks before the unpopular party in power was set to face a tight election. If the shelves were bare and Amazon packages stopped coming a week before the election, you can bet which party the average, middle class Jane and Joe would vote for.
Luckily for Democrats, the union worked it out in the nick of time. President Joe Biden called the deal “critical progress towards a strong contract,” as if he was simply an outside observer. But let’s be real: An army of Democratic operatives has been scrambling behind the scenes all week to avert this bubbling political crisis.
As much as Dems pretend they’re above all the gamesmanship, some sort of quid quo pro almost certainly took place: Call off the strike, get back to work and we’ll make sure you’re taken care of when we’re back in the White House.
The ILA is betting that the Dems will keep their end of the bargain, but they could very well live to regret this decision. The Democratic Party has no interest in protecting the interests of a majority-white working class. In fact, they imagine them a dying breed who can’t disappear fast enough.
The ILA will never have more leverage than they have right at this moment. It appears they’ve already squandered it.
