OAN Staff James Myers
2:26 PM – Thursday, October 3, 2024
At least 45 container ships anchored outside U.S. ports Thursday as a major strike by longshoremen from Maine to Texas entered its third day.
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Container ships remained anchored along East Coast and Gulf Coast ports Wednesday night, unable to unload goods because of picketing by longshoremen, the news agency said. everstream analysis.
Before Sunday's strike, only three container ships were at anchor.
The media also predicted that if the strike continues, backups could double by the end of the week and it could take months for the traffic jams to clear.
“Rather than make a proactive decision to change direction, many appear to have decided to wait it out, perhaps hoping for a quick resolution to the strike action.” everstream Gian Santoro said in a video presentation watched by viewers. Reuters.
Meanwhile, more than 45,000 longshoremen are demanding higher wages and additional protections in the next contract.
Analysts have warned that the strike could cost the economy billions of dollars a day, disrupting shipments of essential goods such as food, cars, auto parts, medicine and other goods.
“I think we're making progress,” President Joe Biden insisted Thursday. “You'll find out soon!”
However, there were still no negotiations between the International Longshoremen's Association and the employers scheduled for Thursday. Nevertheless, port owners issued a statement late Wednesday indicating they were open to new discussions.
The U.S. Maritime Alliance said late Wednesday that “negotiations are necessary to reach an agreement.” “While we disagree with the preconditions for returning to negotiations, we remain committed to negotiating in good faith to meet the demands of the ILA and the concerns of the USMX.”
Harold Daggett, the union boss leading the strike, personally made $728,000 from the ILA last year. He said the union is seeking a $5-an-hour raise in each year of the six-year contract and a commitment to ban automation.
Affected companies are hoping that Biden will implement the federal Taft-Hartley Act, which gives the U.S. president the power to force employees to return to work during a labor dispute with an 80-day cooling-off period. There is.
But those hopes were dashed when Biden said on Monday that he “doesn't believe” in Taft-Hartley.
On Wednesday, the National Retail Federation and about 300 other trade groups called on the Biden administration to take a tougher stance against large-scale strikes and force workers to return to work.
But Mr Daggett remains resistant, insisting the ILA will be involved for the long term.
“We are prepared to fight as long as necessary, stay on strike for any length of time, and get the wages and automation protections that ILA members deserve,” Daggett said Tuesday.
Additionally, the strike comes in the wake of the tragic Hurricane Helen, which caused extensive damage across southeastern states ahead of the holiday season.
About half of all U.S. imports arrive by water or on these container ships, according to Morgan Stanley.
While strikes do not have an “immediate” impact on prices, port backups could lead to significant shortages and price increases.
“From a consumer perspective, if the strike continues for a few weeks, you'll start to see the impact on grocery stores,” said Larry Gross, a supply chain analyst and president of Gross Transportation Consulting, according to the paper. Deaf,” he said. New York Post.
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