First, my perspective for new readers. I generally support private sector labor unions. I did not always support them. I do not support public sector unions, nor the leadership of most labor unions in general who politicize their activity. In our modern era, the baseline for organized labor to support the interests of their blue-collar workforce is valid.
Against the backdrop of the larger geopolitical dynamic, I would make the case that, similar to the solidarity movement of the mid 1980’s, organizing the general workforce is going to be the last-resort backstop measure to block ideological western government and corporate intentions.
Populism, nationalism and MAGA specifically, needs a unity alliance with organized private sector labor.
I also believe President Trump sees the looming importance of this relationship as made visible by his support for the Teamsters union during the RNC convention.
Consider what we witnessed and endured with the forced worker vaccination programs of 2021. I do not like the idea of politicized labor but contemplate how organized labor could have been used to pushback against the diminishment of liberty. There is a potential for value; thus, I evaluate organized apolitical labor as a potential pragmatic ally.
That said, let us discuss the looming strike by The International Longshoreman’s Association, which represents 50,000 East and Gulf Coast dockworkers.
There are a lot of economic impacts that can be created by a dockworker strike; they range from inconvenient to severe depending on the industry and sector therein. With the U.S. manufacturing base diminished, imported goods now represent the system to deliver essential products into our nation.
Example: Within the network of essential goods, refined fuel is a critical component. I am not sure how the Port of Tampa and Port of Everglades would be impacted, but most fuel deliveries into Florida come from these two ports. I would consider fuel a vital and essential product. Stop the offloading of fuel and things can get sketchy quickly for the Florida economy.
On a global scale, stopping the export of USA generated Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) could be a potential problem for Europe. The EU is now dependent on non-Russian energy stores, the USA exports are a component of those needs. The U.S. Maritime Alliance, or USMX, an organization bargaining on behalf of the dockworkers’ employers, claims that only 25,000 workers will be impacted by the likely work stoppage. I don’t think we quite know which sectors would be most affected.
On the agricultural side, deliveries of perishable imports like bananas would likely lead to almost immediate price increases if those products were stopped. However, the USA produced farm products would likely drop in price if exports stopped and could potentially offset any increase in import price for agriculture goods at retail. Again, bottom line – no one is sure the impact.
♦ One angle is predictable. If there are shortages of goods that create problems for those in politics, hurricane Helene will likely be used as an excuse for supply chain disruption. It will be difficult to gauge the accuracy of any deflective claim. The ability to deflect this scenario, it’s not the ports – it’s the bridges and roads, can be exploited by the Biden administration.
The Wall Street corporations have a narrative to push, represented by ABC News:
[…] A strike lasting a matter of months could cause a shortage of raw materials that brings some manufacturing activity to a halt, leading to layoffs at affected plants as well as in related industries such as shipping and logistics, some experts said.
“If there aren’t shipments to pick up, it would have a boomerang effect across the whole nation,” Bill Stankiewicz, owner of Georgia-based logistics consulting company Savannah Supply Chain, told ABC News.
At the heart of a potential disruption, shortages of parts would prevent manufacturers from assembling and shipping out final products, Miller said. The auto sector would be heavily impacted but the slowdown would affect “all types of industries,” he added.
“If you start having a very extended strike you’ll be looking at temporary layoffs because plants can’t get their parts,” Miller said.
Kamins echoed concern about manufacturing workers. Still, such an outcome would only result from a prolonged strike, he said.
In 2002, a strike among workers at West Coast ports lasted 11-days before then-President George W. Bush invoked the Taft-Hartley Act and ended the standoff. However, the last time East and Gulf Coast workers went on strike, in 1977, the work stoppage lasted seven weeks.
“Conceivably, some manufacturing workers could be affected,” Kamins said. “That would be many months down the road. I’d be surprised if it gets to that point.” (LINK)
In the bigger picture, while we are unsure of the specific and/or granular impacts, I am cautiously optimistic the outcomes of a general labor strike by the longshoremen can be of benefit in solidifying the strategic value of an organized workforce.
There may be a time in the not-too-distant future when Americans as a whole need to repeat the approach of the Solidarity movement in order to defeat the enterprise of weaponized government intent on oppression.
All other attempts to raise valid grievances, stop insane policies, and demand a voice at the table have seemingly failed. President Trump represents our last effort for reasonable cohesion.
Last point, an awakened American public know President Donald J Trump could stop this labor conflict.
