Port closures ~ Update 10/3

[jimbo1096]

Boston port closed due to the dockworker strike, this will eventually effect all container ship entry ports due to worker picket lines. They want higher wages and a stop to workplace automation. Most make six figures and can see 200k with overtime,
Not sure I'm on the dockworker side on this one.

https://apnews.com/article/dockwork...longshoremen-91703e4798dbc9ee82185e983f31a3f6

 

[bigbillyboy]

We stocked up on some extra essentials today , who knows how long this goes on .

 

[thinckley]

I am 100% not on their side in this. I understand why the unions were originally formed. Not disputing the need for them at that time. In this day and age? They are nothing but money hungry, greedy, SOB's. You cannot convince me otherwise.

 

[OMCHamlin]

Nor would I try, they are nothing more (now) then an extortion racket. Fire them, bring illegal aliens in as scabs, that should stir some sh-t up! Convince Joe it's a good thing!

 

[gunzo]

Downright greed, & not strong arming their employer, but strangling the American consumer.

 

[hittman]

https://www.foxbusiness.com/media/biden-wont-force-ports-resume-operations-invoking-labor-law

 

[ex13F]

Tomorrow he may say something different? I liked the idea of telling the dock workers that they will be replaced with Haitians. That will twist some tails!

 

[JohnL]

No more Irish Whiskey for a while it seems. So, switching to USA made stuff. I hear there are a few....

 

[bykerhd]

Biden is in no position, mentally, physically or maybe politically to deal with this on top of the Middle East issues, Ukraine and, probably soon, Chinese Pacific aggressions ?
Kamala has no clue on much of anything, lots of ambitions though.
U.S. consumers are left twisting in the wind in the mean time.

 

[jimbo1096]

No more Irish Whiskey for a while it seems. So, switching to USA made stuff. I hear there are a few....

Drink American!
Kentucky and Buffalo Trace

 

[JohnL]

Drink American!
Kentucky and Buffalo Trace

George Dickel mostly. Some Pendleton. Wild Turkey. Buffalo Trace is good, too, but hard ot find here.

 

[JohnL]

Biden is in no position, mentally, physically or maybe politically to deal with this on top of the Middle East issues, Ukraine and, probably soon, Chinese Pacific aggressions ?
Kamala has no clue on much of anything, lots of ambitions though.
U.S. consumers are left twisting in the wind in the mean time.

A fair assessment.

 

[eveled]

100k is barely past poverty level in Boston. Seems their big point is less automation. = more jobs

Maybe we should start manufacturing stuff here instead of importing everything from China. Also = more jobs.

Edit to add “=more jobs.” We can’t keep eliminating jobs. Now flipping burgers was never meant to support a family. A dock worker seems like a job that should.

 

[Gator89]

If this strike gets really nasty, it will be interesting to see what the situation looks like in a few years.

Automobiles can be assembled in Mexico and shipped by rail to the US. Cargo can be offloaded in Mexico and shipped to the US as well.

https://www.gocomet.com/blog/top-mexico-ports/

 

[Mobuck]

"100k is barely past poverty level in Boston. Seems their big point is less automation."
OK, offer them a gangway and let them tote the bags, boxes, and whatever onto the ships on their own backs. I believe that 'at one time' unions had their place BUT--that time passed decades ago.

 

[GasGuzzler]

Union pukes. Heard about this from my wife well before I heard about it anywhere else so we got some extras this past week just in case.

 

[eveled]

 

[thinckley]

Maybe we should start manufacturing stuff here instead of importing everything from China. Also = more jobs.

I agree with you, but the ports that are closing are only on the EAST (edit) coast. This is mostly goods from Europe.

The company I work for is based in Austria, that is where the majority of our manufacturing takes place. Up until about 10 years ago, part of my job was handling all of the imports, typically a container by sea and anywhere from 3-20 pallets via airfreight per week. Some of the shipments will re-route to Montreal meaning Canada is about to get PAID. The American consumer is still getting screwed.

 

[Fox Mike]

I agree with you, but the ports that are closing are only on the west coast. This is mostly goods from Europe.

When did Baltimore move, last I checked we were on he EAST coast. The headlines this morning (Wednesday 2 Oct) in the Baltimore Sun said, and I quote: "ILA dockworkers go on strike at Baltimore port." It further said : "Rejected contract had 50% pay increase over 6 years"

 

[thinckley]

When did Baltimore move, last I checked we were on he EAST coast. The headlines this morning (Wednesday 2 Oct) in the Baltimore Sun said, and I quote: "ILA dockworkers go on strike at Baltimore port." It further said : "Rejected contract had 50% pay increase over 6 years"

Too early, not enough coffee. Edited to correct.

 

[eveled]

I may be wrong but I was under the impression it was cheaper to bring chinese stuff to the East coast by boat than by truck across country.

The real problem is the cost of living. Most here supported their families on one income. I'm sure they worked some overtime but lived well. Now it's tough on 2 incomes.

Their base pay is $81,000 a year. The shipping companies are making huge profits.

 

[thinckley]

than by truck across country.

The vast majority of the goods travel by train (east or west coast). Taking boats through the Panama Canal is expensive, extremely expensive.

 

[eveled]

Understood. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[rovernut]

Boston port closed due to the dockworker strike, this will eventually effect all container ship entry ports due to worker picket lines. They want higher wages and a stop to workplace automation. Most make six figures and can see 200k with overtime,
Not sure I'm on the dockworker side on this one.

https://apnews.com/article/dockwork...longshoremen-91703e4798dbc9ee82185e983f31a3f6

Only east and Gulf coast. Which of course is bad enough.
https://www.worldcargonews.com/news...ffected-by-strike-on-us-east-and-gulf-coasts/
Tom

 

[The Norseman]

We’ll just adapt and overcome like usual.

There’s always another product that can
replace the one you can’t get.

The Automation part of this stance is
valid but we haven’t seen nothing yet.

Just thing what happens when Alternative
Intelligence come more of a thing.

And why are they negotiating increasing
pay over time, they deserve it now. Look
at the Trillions of dollars that are made from
the cheap crap we buy, and that they unload.

 

[Johnnu2]

Increasing salaries = increasing cost of living = increasing salaries = increasing cost of living = etc etc etc etc etc
You wanna make a lot of money, be a doctor, lawyer, rocket scientist, etc Otherwise, see "above".
Seems simple to me(?)
IMHO,
J.

 

[vito]

The union is demanding a base wage of $69.00/hour within 5 years. They just want to continue the gravy train which has operated for union stevedores for generations. Over 60 years ago a friend of my father's was a senior dockworker. The union conttract forced the shipping companies to hire far more workers than were needed to do the job. So each morning this man would show up for work, but based on his seniority he was sent home within a few minutes, at full pay of course. For years he had a second job to add to the work free pay he was getting as a "dock worker". This man owned a huge home in Brooklyn where we lived, as well as two vacation homes. He was the only person I knew in those days to own more than one car, and his kids went to private colleges (this was before there was such a thing as student loans).

I grew up in a union household, and earlier in my life was a union member myself in the hospital workers union, but I consider the longshoreman's union as bad for our country as the Communist teachers' unions.

 

[Gator89]

Automation will happen one way or another. The ILA can work with it and keep the majority of its members employed.

Or the ports in Mexico can adapt and takeover the east coast cargo business.

 

[Johnnu2]

The union is demanding a base wage of $69.00/hour within 5 years. They just want to continue the gravy train which has operated for union stevedores for generations. Over 60 years ago a friend of my father's was a senior dockworker. The union conttract forced the shipping companies to hire far more workers than were needed to do the job. So each morning this man would show up for work, but based on his seniority he was sent home within a few minutes, at full pay of course.

I think I knew that guy (and dozens of his relatives and friends who had the same "opportunities" and money)...

J.

 

[bigfuzzy]

saw a news report this morning that the head of the union makes over 800,000 a year and dock workers make over 80,000 a year. don't know any facts?