Biden urges port operators to increase wages after 45,000 workers go on strike
Source: The Guardian
Tue 1 Oct 2024 12.56 EDT
Biden has urged port operators to give workers a “meaningful increase” in pay after tens of thousands went on strike, prompting some of the busiest ports in the US to brace for crippling disruption.
About 45,000 port workers represented by the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) began walking off the job after their contracts expired at midnight, with 36 ports along the east and Gulf coasts affected. They typically handle about half of the nation’s ocean shipping.
Talks over a new contract between the ILA and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) have broken down, and the union dismissed a last-ditch offer from operators hours before the strike was due to began. Hours after the strike began, the White House issued a robust statement calling on USMX to negotiate a “fair” contract that reflects “the substantial contribution” of ports workers to America’s economy.
“Now is not the time for ocean carriers to refuse to negotiate a fair wage for these essential workers while raking in record profits,” the president said. “My administration will be monitoring for any price gouging activity that benefits foreign ocean carriers, including those on the USMX board.”
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/oct/01/us-port-workers-strike-ila-union
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That usually works
