What % of Chinese stuff come into East Coast ports?
Longshoreman Strike - East and Gulf Coast - now features TP shortages
- Thread starter SC Maintenance
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True. You would think that being offered a 50% raise would be enough. However, their last contract was negotiated 6 years ago before massive inflation was a thing, and we have no idea exactly how far their purchasing power has eroded since then because they aren't reporting what the annual raises have been over those 6 years, which have certainly been below actual inflation rates.
They can ask for anything they want, which is the way free market negotiations work.
The president can order the workers back to work, but there are all the ramifications that go along with that choice.
One thing I have not seen covered is that the vast majority of these ports are in right to work states. Could they just start hiring other folks?
Honestly I give the Union credit for making this out to be a big deal. Other than the medical supplies and maybe fuel in Florida, most of the stuff coming in we can easily live without.
It takes a lot of chutzpah to make those demands on top of huge pay hikes. Will they threaten violence if they don't get what they want?
Stopped at Walmart by my work yesterday to see if the had QS Ultimate protection (they did not...) While there, my wife texted me to grab her a bottle of 70% alcohol. They had some, but not much. Cleaned out. TP and PT aisle empty. Water aisle empty. These container ships are full of bottled water, TP and PT? SMH......
I bet the Haitians would work the docks for 1/4 the cost.
Lots of migrants coming in that would gladly take their jobs.
If there were unions 140 years ago, none of these ports would exist...because union workers would not have built the railroads that move most of these containers to/from the ports.
Many, many years ago as a young man, I worked in a service industry that had me going into many home’s basements. This was a time when people who lived through the Depression of ‘29 were still around in great numbers. As a young man who lived in the country of plenty, I couldn’t comprehend why many of these people had stockpiles of canned goods often on homemade shelving from floor to ceiling in those basements. It wasn’t until later, after talking with relatives who lived through those years, that I got a glimpse into what they had to endure. The lessons they learned during those years stayed with them their entire lives.
Rumor has it the ports are retuning to American possession and not under the old US Martine Admiralty laws.
I wonder what we'd be saying if this was all accountants striking, demanding that Quickbooks and Turbotax be outlawed. Or every cab and livery driver refusing to work until we ban self-driving cars.
If you carry this far enough, every profession should demand that all progress and even the flow of information cease to guarantee they keep their job, ie you might watch a YT video that allows you to repair your car rather than employing your local mechanic.
I dealt with a lot of old folks like that . They saved everything . They could have an old car out in the barn that hasn't run in decades and wouldn't even dream of entertaining an offer to sell it . Fifteen year old half bottle of motor oil . Nope , I might need that some day . Go to an Estate Sale and you'll see the kinds of things people kept .
Yes, many people do not know the cost of living on Long Island. They do not know that police officers there make 6 figure plus incomes and by the time they retire its more like 200k or more granted, some of it over time.
Meaning, if they strike they take risk. Either way I dont care if they make more money or put themselves out of work down the line because some unions do that. So I dont care *LOL* all part of life. I take no position as I never have been a union but would not have minded it, I always was mostly self employed and worked darn hard to get where I am. So to each their own, good luck if they win or lose.
With that said, I understand the union, like all union are against new technologies that cut down on the work force. Like some have posted in here, that other countries do. Robotic and computers unloading ships. So the demand for what might be excessive income will hasten the demise of many jobs there. Sure they may think they have an agreement to limit it and they will short term.
I have no idea what I am talking about *LOL* Just thoughts on my mind and to acknowledge that the cost of living in the NY metro area is insane. IN fact for some reason (no politics) many of the public servants are making far more income than the residents. You get what you vote for.
My grandma would save food scraps by wrapping them in five or six plastic grocery bags, not labeling anything, and throwing them in the freezer. For years or more.
I'm not in favor of wasting food but I always felt like the plan had an Achilles Heel: electricity is absolutely required, and I don't think they had great refrigeration during the Great Depression
And FFS label the stuff so you don't have to unwrap five bags only to find those are the pork chops from five Christmases ago but you're seeking the turkey leg from six Thanksgivings past.....
It's far from perfect and people will pick it apart but the point is if they get to stand in the way of progress, why can't we all?
Maybe as a machinist and fabricator I'm threatened by 3D printers. If everybody gets a replicator in their home, do they still need me? Gosh golly, that's not fair -- I should be guaranteed a job that doesn't change forever BECAUSE.....well, WHY, exactly??
You are not going to stop AI or the automation that comes with it. Union protectionism becomes tyranny. And who controls the unions? Hint it's not the members. There a lot of mysterious reasons for this work stoppage, most inappropriate for this forum though.
I say let things play out till after the 'election'.
I say let things play out till after the 'election'.
