More than 45,000 dockworkers in the USA ended their strike after reaching an agreement
4 october 2024 в 18:13
Almost 45,000 dockworkers have gone on strike at ports along the East and Gulf coasts of the United States, demanding higher wages and stronger protection from job automation.
Members of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), representing the interests of dockworkers, went on strike on Tuesday for the first time in nearly 50 years, advocating for «the wages we deserve», - as ILA President Harold Daggett stated in a social media post.
However, updates from both ILA and the United States Maritime Alliance, Ltd. (USMX) indicate that the strike has come to some resolution. In a joint statement published on social media on Thursday, October 3, ILA and USMX announced a suspension of the strike after reaching a «preliminary» agreement.
«The International Longshoremen’s Association and the United States Maritime Alliance, Ltd. have reached a preliminary agreement on wages and have agreed to extend the Master Contract until January 15, 2025, to return to the negotiating table and discuss all remaining issues», - the statement read. «Since the agreement has come into effect, all current actions will cease, and all work covered by the Master Contract will resume».
In a statement on Monday, the union accused USMX, representing the interests of ports and maritime carriers, of hindering efforts to reach an agreement to end the strike. «Maritime carriers, represented by USMX, want to enjoy the billions in profits they will receive in 2024 by offering ILA dockworkers an unacceptable wage package that we reject», - the statement read.
Recently, the United States Maritime Alliance offered a lower increase of nearly 50%, which ILA rejected. «They may claim a significant increase, but they conveniently forget that many of our members work on multimillion-dollar container handling equipment for just $ 20 an hour. In some states, the minimum wage is already $ 15», - ILA emphasized.
Before the strike, ILA Fort Lauderdale chapter president Johnny Dickson stated that the union’s demands are justified due to rising consumer prices.
«Our members currently earn up to $ 39 per hour. We are aiming for an almost 77% increase over the next seven years. Given the current inflation, this is more than reasonable», - he said.
The maximum hourly wage of $ 39 translates to just over $ 81,000 per year for those who have worked at least six years, but dockworkers can significantly increase their income by taking on additional shifts. According to the 2019−2020 annual report from the Waterfront Commission of the Port of New York, about a third of local dockworkers earn $ 200,000 or more per year.
Typically, a dockworker’s salary can exceed $ 100,000, but achieving this figure often requires a significant amount of overtime work. Daggett noted that these highly paid workers often work up to 100 hours per week
Members of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), representing the interests of dockworkers, went on strike on Tuesday for the first time in nearly 50 years, advocating for «the wages we deserve», - as ILA President Harold Daggett stated in a social media post.
However, updates from both ILA and the United States Maritime Alliance, Ltd. (USMX) indicate that the strike has come to some resolution. In a joint statement published on social media on Thursday, October 3, ILA and USMX announced a suspension of the strike after reaching a «preliminary» agreement.
«The International Longshoremen’s Association and the United States Maritime Alliance, Ltd. have reached a preliminary agreement on wages and have agreed to extend the Master Contract until January 15, 2025, to return to the negotiating table and discuss all remaining issues», - the statement read. «Since the agreement has come into effect, all current actions will cease, and all work covered by the Master Contract will resume».
In a statement on Monday, the union accused USMX, representing the interests of ports and maritime carriers, of hindering efforts to reach an agreement to end the strike. «Maritime carriers, represented by USMX, want to enjoy the billions in profits they will receive in 2024 by offering ILA dockworkers an unacceptable wage package that we reject», - the statement read.
Recently, the United States Maritime Alliance offered a lower increase of nearly 50%, which ILA rejected. «They may claim a significant increase, but they conveniently forget that many of our members work on multimillion-dollar container handling equipment for just $ 20 an hour. In some states, the minimum wage is already $ 15», - ILA emphasized.
Before the strike, ILA Fort Lauderdale chapter president Johnny Dickson stated that the union’s demands are justified due to rising consumer prices.
«Our members currently earn up to $ 39 per hour. We are aiming for an almost 77% increase over the next seven years. Given the current inflation, this is more than reasonable», - he said.
The maximum hourly wage of $ 39 translates to just over $ 81,000 per year for those who have worked at least six years, but dockworkers can significantly increase their income by taking on additional shifts. According to the 2019−2020 annual report from the Waterfront Commission of the Port of New York, about a third of local dockworkers earn $ 200,000 or more per year.
Typically, a dockworker’s salary can exceed $ 100,000, but achieving this figure often requires a significant amount of overtime work. Daggett noted that these highly paid workers often work up to 100 hours per week
© Smirnova Olga
