A strike at the nation’s East and Gulf Coast ports from Maine to Texas entered its third day on Thursday, the first large-scale eastern dockworker strike in 47 years.
Members of the International Longshoremen’s Association walked off the. job as they push for better wages and working conditions. President Joe Biden has declined to intervene by invoking the Taft-Hartley Act.
“It’s critical for USMX and the ILA to reach a fair agreement soon that respects workers and ensures a flow of commerce through our ports,” Govs. Phil Murphy of New Jersey, Kathy Hochul of New York, Maura Healey of Massachusetts and Wes Moore of Maryland said in a joint statement.
“We want to state clearly that we, along with the Biden-Harris Administration, are closely monitoring for incidences of price gouging, and warn all companies that they should not use this moment as an opportunity to unfairly profit off of working families,” the governors added. “We will continue to closely coordinate to ensure that critical supplies are available at medical facilities and grocers across the country.”
USMX, or the United States Maritime Alliance, represents employers of the East and Gulf Coast longshore industry.
Earlier this week, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves, R-Missouri, and Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee Chairman Daniel Webster, R-Florida, asked Biden to invoke the Taft-Hartley Act to open the ports and bring parties to the negotiating table. Hundreds of organizations and stakeholders involved in America’s supply chain have also called upon the Biden Administration to intervene.
“Americans experienced the pain of delays and shortages of goods during the pandemic-era supply chain backlogs in 2021. It would be unconscionable to allow a contract dispute to inflict such a shock to our economy,” the U.S. Chamber of Commerce said in a statement. “These ports collectively handle more than 68% of all containerized exports and 56% of imports for the nation, with a daily trade value exceeding $2.1 billion.
“Taft-Hartley would provide time for both parties in negotiation to reach a deal on a new labor contract,” the group added. “We understand labor negotiations are complex, but we urge you to protect our economy by invoking Taft-Hartley and avoiding a work stoppage.”
Separately, ILA President Harold J. Daggett and other ILA top officers have received death threats, particularly after the New York Post this week published aerial photographs of Daggett’s New Jersey home, according to the union.
