Tuesday, October 1, 2024
Year : 2, Issue: 38
Dockworkers at ports in New Jersey and New York are now on strike — cutting goods from flowing through the busiest East Coast ports with no resolution in sight.
They walked off the job at midnight at ports from Staten Island to Brooklyn to Bayonne and Newark and all down the East Coast.
“Moments ago, the first large-scale eastern dockworker strike in 47 years began at ports from Maine to Texas, including at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey,” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement Tuesday.
“In preparation for this moment, New York has been working around the clock to ensure that our grocery stores and medical facilities have the essential products they need,” Hochul added.
It’s the first strike for dockworkers in decades, over wages and automation even though progress had been reported in contract talks. The strike, also impacting ports along the Gulf Coast, could have devastating impacts on the shipping industry, including shortages and driving up the cost of goods.
The International Longshoreman Association says it is willing to stand on the picket lines for as long as it takes until a new deal is struck with the United States Maritime Alliance.
The 45,000 striking workers are demanding a “fair contract,” which includes a 77% wage increase over six years. They’re also looking for a total ban on automated equipment like cranes and gates, as well as better health coverage.
“Our current offer of a nearly 50% wage increase exceeds every other recent union settlement, while addressing inflation, and recognizing the ILA’s hard work to keep the global economy running,” the U.S. Maritime Alliance said. “We look forward to hearing from the Union about how we can return to the table and actually bargain, which is the only way to reach a resolution.”
Source: ABC7 News
