Early Tuesday morning, dockworkers at ports across the US began a strike over wages and automation that could cause supply shortages and increase inflation.
According to the Associated Press, the contract between the International Longshoremen’s Association and 36 ports from Maine to Texas. The strike went forward despite reported progress in negotiations and is the first one by the union since 1977.
The union opened negotiations with an offer for a77 percent pay increase over the six-year contract. Union President Harold Daggett said the increase was necessary to compensate for years of minor increases and inflation.
Monday evening, the US Maritime Alliance, which represents the ports, increased their offer to 50 percent raises over six years, and promised to maintain automation limits that were in the previous even though the union is demanding a complete ban on automation.
