President Joe Biden has finally weighed in on the ongoing strike at East and Gulf Coast ports, urging a resolution that meets the demands of labor unions. In a statement released on Tuesday, Biden emphasized the importance of collective bargaining in securing fair pay and benefits for workers.
“I’ve encouraged USMX, which represents a coalition of foreign-owned carriers, to engage in meaningful negotiations with the International Longshoremen’s Association and present a fair offer that reflects the workers’ vital contributions,” Biden stated. “It’s worth noting that ocean carriers have seen record profits since the pandemic, with some experiencing profit growth of over 800 percent. Meanwhile, executive compensation has also risen significantly, and shareholders have received record returns. It’s only fair that workers, who risked their safety during the pandemic to keep ports operational, receive a substantial wage increase.”
As the country recovers from the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Biden highlighted the crucial role dockworkers will play in delivering essential resources to affected communities. “This is not the time for ocean carriers to refuse fair wage negotiations while reaping record profits,” he stressed. “My Administration will be closely monitoring for any price gouging activities that benefit foreign ocean carriers, including those represented on the USMX board. It’s time for USMX to negotiate a fair contract that acknowledges the longshoremen’s significant contributions to our economic recovery.”
Notably, Biden has declined to invoke the Taft-Hartley Act, which would have required port workers to continue operations while negotiations resume. The USMX has offered the Longshoremen a 50 percent raise, but the union’s negotiation tactics have been criticized, with some accusing them of breaking labor laws. The USMX has filed an unfair labor complaint with the National Labor Relations Board, which the ILA has dismissed as a “publicity stunt.”
The head of the Longshoremen’s Association explained the consequences this way:
