Thousands of Atlantic and Gulf Coast port workers went on strike at 12:01 a.m. on Oct. 1 for the first time since 1977, a work disruption that could potentially cause sizable harm to the U.S. economy.
The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), North America’s largest union of dock and maritime workers with 85,000 members, rejected a proposal made by the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX), which is a coalition of container carriers, direct employers, and port associations.
“We are prepared to fight as long as necessary, to stay out on strike for whatever period of time it takes, to get the wages and protections against automation our ILA members deserve,” said Harold Daggett, the ILA president….