The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) union began a strike at East and Gulf Coast ports from New England to Texas at 12:01am after rejecting a proposal for a 50% wage increase that failed to address concerns about port automation. After the strike commenced, Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien issued a statement saying, “The U.S. government should stay…out of this fight and allow union workers to withhold their labor for the wages and benefits they have earned.” President Biden also issued a statement saying, “I have urged USMX, which represents a group of foreign-owned carriers, to come to the table and present a fair offer to the workers of the International Longshoremen’s Association that ensures they are paid appropriately in line with their invaluable contributions. Ocean carriers have made record profits since the pandemic and in some cases profits grew in excess of 800 percent compared to their profits prior to the pandemic. Executive compensation has grown in line with those profits and profits have been returned to shareholders at record rates. It’s only fair that workers, who put themselves at risk during the pandemic to keep ports open, see a meaningful increase in their wages as well. As our nation climbs out of the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, dockworkers will play an essential role in getting communities the resources they need. Now is not the time for ocean carriers to refuse to negotiate a fair wage for these essential workers while raking in record profits. My Administration will be monitoring for any price gouging activity that benefits foreign ocean carriers, including those on the USMX board.”
Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Ranking Member Bill Cassidy (R-LA) issued a statement on the strike criticizing the Biden Administration for “failing to use its authority under the Taft-Hartley Act to avert a strike that will have massive implications for the American economy.” Relatedly, top Republicans on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee sent a letter to President Biden urging him to use the Taft-Hartley Act to restore port operations and bring parties back to the negotiating table.