Union boss on strike at US ports: ‘I’m not playing games’

America’s major ports will remain closed until wage demands are met, the union boss representing striking dock workers has said.

Harold Daggett, head of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), made the pledge in New Jersey on Tuesday, as tens of thousands of longshoremen on the east and gulf coasts walked out to try to win a better labor contract.

“We will fight for it and we will win even if this port does not open again,” he said. “I’m not kidding here.”

Businesses are concerned about the possibility of long-term port closures, which threaten to wreak havoc on world trade and the US economy.

President Joe Biden has so far rejected calls from some of the country’s largest business groups to use federal powers to reopen the ports for 80 days, suspending the strike to provide a cooling-off period for negotiations.

“It is fitting that the workers, who are putting themselves at risk during this time of violence to keep the ports open, should also see their wages increase,” said Biden.

“Now is not the time for ocean carriers to refuse to negotiate fair wages for these critical workers while enjoying record profits.”

The strike, the first since 1977 for the ILA, halted traffic on 14 of the country’s busiest ports, including New York, Georgia and Texas.

Ports are estimated by experts to handle more than one-third of US imports and exports. The disruption may lead to delays in the delivery of goods for businesses and consumers.

The president said officials will be on the lookout to see signs that prices have been improperly increased in the event of a shortage.

Talks on a new deal had stalled for months before the strike, but the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX), which represents shipping companies and port associations, said the two sides had begun exchanging proposals again.

Under the 2018 contract that expired Monday, dock workers receive a base wage of $20-$39 an hour, along with other benefits, including benefits tied to box traffic.

USMX said its latest offer would increase pay by nearly 50%, triple company contributions to retirement and improve health care, among other deals.

The union said the proposal trumped “all other recent union agreements” and called the current standoff “absolutely unavoidable”.

“We look forward to hearing from the union about how we can get back to the table and negotiate, which is the only way to reach a resolution,” it said.

However, the ILA’s Mr Daggett said there had been “nothing” to bring the union and companies together to end the strike.

He said he was willing to shut down the ports until the companies agreed to raise wages by $5 an hour in each contract year. The union, which has nearly 47,000 active members according to union documents, also wants self-employment protection.

“I will fight for it because those greedy companies make billions of dollars and do not want to share it,” he said. “I want my members to take care of their health that’s why we are out here.”

If prolonged, the shutdown is expected to lead to higher prices and shortages in the US, with shipping delays and other impacts spreading around the world.

“We can see now that ships are starting to stop outside the ports and wait to see what will happen,” said Anne-Sophie Fribourg, vice president at shipping company Zencargo, which arranges shipments for exporters and importers.

“The disruption will be great if the strike continues,” he said.

Already 100,000 containers are in critical condition waiting to be unloaded in the New York area, and another 35 ships are expected to arrive this week, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said.

Danny Reynolds, owner of Stephenson’s, a 93-year-old clothing store in Elkhart, Indiana, said he paid extra money to expedite the shipment of sweaters and coats into the country before the strike.

But about 25% of his inventory hasn’t arrived yet and he’s got his fingers crossed that it’s been taken down. She said she is most concerned about the possible delivery dates for special-order wedding dresses for November and December weddings.

“Where we worry is when we have special order clothes for people’s wedding days that can be locked up on the ship and not be able to reach us.

About 75% of his merchandise goes through east coast ports, he added. He explained that although he expected his business to be able to operate until the end of the year, he was afraid of a big impact.

“I think the effects on the economy could be very bad if this continues,” he said, adding that he wants to see the president come in.

“I think it’s overdue, honestly, for the Biden administration to sit down at the table with them and see what can be done to open these things up.”