Key Takeaways:
– Around 45,000 dockworkers from the US East and Gulf Coasts are on strike for a pay rise and increased job security.
– The International Longshoremen’s Association, representing the workers, claim their top demand is adequate wages.
– They seek an almost 77% wage increase over the next seven years, owing to the current inflation.
– The opposing United States Maritime Alliance offered a lower increase of almost 50%, which was rejected by the union.
– Workers from East and Gulf Coast earn considerably less than their West Coast counterparts.
Work Stoppage at Ports
In an unprecedented move, around 45,000 dockworkers walked out of their jobs, casting their strike at ports along the East and Gulf Coasts of the United States this week. Standing united for more substantial paychecks and stronger shields against automation taking their jobs, these employees marked the first such strike in close to half a century.
Demands: Higher Pay and Job Security
Represented by the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), these dockworkers are strongly advocating for what their President, Harold Daggett, refers to as “the kind of wages we deserve,” as noted in his recent social media statement. Alongside pay rises, the union is also seeking greater protection against the ever-looming risk of their roles being overtaken by automation.
In their latest communication against the United States Maritime Alliance – the body expressing the interests of docks and ocean carriers – the union alleged that the Alliance was a roadblock to a desired resolution of the strike. They accused the Alliance of reaping rich profits while offering unacceptable wage packages to the ILA dockworkers.
Unveiling the Salary of a Port Worker
Johnnie Dixon, President of the ILA’s Fort Lauderdale chapter, suggested that their demands were reasonable given the spike in consumer prices. It’s important to note that the top-tier hourly wage for these workers is $39, equivalent to just over $81,000 annually for those with at least six years of experience. However, a chunk of these longshoremen can bolster their earnings by tackling additional shifts, pushing their annual income past the $200,000 mark. Working extra hours is typically the sought-after route to surpass the $100,000 salary bracket for these workers.
The Proposed Wages Changes
Upon expiry of the ILA contract earlier this week, it was noted that entry-level pay for dockworkers sat at $20 per hour and reached a cap of $39 criteria being at least six years of tenure. The union, however, wants a steep 77% wage increase over the contract’s period, suggesting a $5 annual raise. Consequently, first-year earnings would be $44 per hour, rising to $49 in year two and culminating at $69 in the final year. A counter-proposal from the U.S. Maritime Alliance featuring a nearly 50% increase got shot down by the ILA.
Leadership remuneration has also surfaced as a talking point, with the ILA President, Harold Daggett, reportedly earning almost $902,000 in combined income back in 2023. Similarly, his son, Dennis Daggett, leading the New Jersey chapter his father once helmed, took home over $700,000.
The West Coast Scenario
Interestingly, workers on the West Coast have not joined their East and Gulf Coast counterparts’ cause. With a different union representing them, these workers successfully negotiated substantial wage raises of their own in 2023. The wage disparity between East, Gulf Coast, and West Coast longshoremen is a significant narrative driving the ongoing strike.