Longshoreman Strike - East and Gulf Coast - now features TP shortages

[loneryder]

They can ask all they want.

I have nothing personally again longshoremen, but greed and getting high pay for not that much work and little education is good for them I guess. Especially the senior guys, and the union leadership.

The companies have already offered 50% increase in pay, better medical and retirement benefits and some job security. Many if not most of our ports are foreign owned and they are already automated in those countries. So they are striking against foreign countries. Ports are a national security infrastructure and the politicians have allowed foreign entities to purchase them over the years. And yes China owns several of our ports. Does that make sense?

 

[edyvw]

The companies have already offered 50% increase in pay, better medical and retirement benefits and some job security. Many if not most of our ports are foreign owned and they are already automated in those countries. So they are striking against foreign countries. Ports are a national security infrastructure and the politicians have allowed foreign entities to purchase them over the years. And yes China owns several of our ports. Does that make sense?

That is a big issue as there is absolutely no way China would allow majority ownership of foreign entities (any) over their ports.
China was using access to its market as a stick. That is changing and we should change our policies accordingly.

 

[zzyzzx]

I thought most paper came out of Canada, then was made into toilet paper in the USA?

That would not involve a port.

 

[Owen Lucas]

Here's a video of port automation in China. It's not like they have a shortage of people either. It's just more efficient, cheaper, and better for the ecomony...

 

[Dave Hess]

Hospitals throughout America use Medline as a major supplier, most of this stuff is made in China. They are worried about Medline distribution centers running out of supplies.

https://www.medline.com/


Baxter in Marion, North Carolina makes there IV fluids and now a shortage nationwide.

https://www.axios.com/2024/10/01/hurricane-helene-iv-fluid-shortage-health-supply-chain

 

[alarmguy]

More or less Home Depot multiples since they peddle so much made in Korea “boxes” …
(I despise that) …

Interesting, do you feel this way about all imported goods? I guess so?
Just a necessity including all the equipment you are using reading and posting on this website.

 

[Dave Hess]

I hope this doesn't effect our Baltimore coal terminal. The bridge collapse put a hurting on us for a couple months, we actually just got back in the black again.

Your finances in the black….. or the city’s finances ?

 

[thastinger]

If the port workers believe they are under compensated then they should take their marketable skills to another employer.

I'll wait.

 

[alarmguy]

Life is easy, let them strike, who cares?
With every crippling strike it makes us aware of our weakness for the future. That is a good thing, like a stress test to a bank because sooner or later, someone will take advantage of our weakness. So a little inconvenience now might prevent a larger one later.
If they dont want to work so be it, could care less if they never come back. But they will.

 

[Owen Lucas]

I went this AM and filled the car with gas and bought an extra $100 worth of canned goods and non perishable pouches of food. I was planning it anyways but the timing seems good.

Never hurts to stock up.

Apparently a lot of retailers saw this coming and started producing and shipping Christmas / Valentines day items earlier this year. It's still going to be a cluster if this isn't resolved in 2 weeks. But I am sure it will. For all of the work team blue is putting into the election, i.e. outspending team red by 5MM a day, they will find a solution.

Here's how the problem will be solved:

• Owners of the ports and interested parties have a knock on their door.
• IRS agent identifies himself and whispers into the ear of the multibillionaire port owner. "You better pay those guys or you'll get audited, we guarantee it."
• Port owner pays the union and the problem goes away.

Another angle is that this is a play by the union, timed perfectly around election season, in this case to not only to hold the country on edge to get a raise, but help get team red into the WH.

Besides contract negotiations, what do the unions have to gain from port being closed down and causing mayhem in the supply chain? I think this mayhem doesn't bode well for the sitting party and plays into hands of the opponent which could play into election results. Blue collar union workers are majority pro team red. They will get paid either way, it's just who is willing to put up with the pain for how long.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

The companies have already offered 50% increase in pay, better medical and retirement benefits and some job security. Many if not most of our ports are foreign owned and they are already automated in those countries. So they are striking against foreign countries. Ports are a national security infrastructure and the politicians have allowed foreign entities to purchase them over the years. And yes China owns several of our ports. Does that make sense?

So what if they're foreign owned. Countries nationalize foreign owned businesses all the time. Exhibit A: Venezuela, Mexico

 

[Dave Hess]

This guy did more damage to these unions than all bad union leaders combined.
Oh yeah, he also:
- Made last year $900,000
- Has Bentley.
- Just sold 76ft yacht.

What will happen? He will win short term, and then automatization will obliterate those jobs.

Long time ago I worked in a supermarket (no union) and the store manager would say unions are similar to:
- Outlaw motorcycle gangs
- Communists on the other side of Berlin Wall

He said both were militant and very difficult to deal with.

 

[Pew]

Life is easy, let them strike, who cares?
With every crippling strike it makes us aware of our weakness for the future. That is a good thing, like a stress test to a bank because sooner or later, someone will take advantage of our weakness. So a little inconvenience now might prevent a larger one later.
If they dont want to work so be it, could care less if they never come back. But they will.

The West coast terminals and truck drivers might benefit from this since shipments will now have to be trucked in from other regions.

 

[4WD]

Interesting, do you feel this way about all imported goods? I guess so?
Just a necessity including all the equipment you are using reading and posting on this website.

I spent two years in Korea after KORUS was passed. They have been caught dumping - and made parts in the north. I’m perfectly fine having a different opinion than you - in fact I knew you would respond …
Nothing will change on that front …

 

[burbguy82]

It is funny........

There really is no shortage, but as soon as the first whisper of a shortage reaches the screens on the internet.......magically there becomes one, for real.

My my my, how fragile our systems really are.

 

[Pew]

It is funny........

There really is no shortage, but as soon as the first whisper of a shortage reaches the screens on the internet.......magically there becomes one, for real.

My my my, how fragile our systems really are.

Have you read about the UK fuel shortages during Autumn of 2000? It's a really good example about how even though society is more complex than ever, modern economies are extremely fragile and how fast society can fall when there's a slight disruption of : (1) a critical good/resources and (2) how fast everything else not directly related gets affected afterwards.

 

[alarmguy]

I spent two years in Korea after KORUS was passed. They have been caught dumping - and made parts in the north. I’m perfectly fine having a different opinion than you - in fact I knew you would respond …
Nothing will change on that front …

I just asked a question as far as nothing changing I don’t keep score

 

[alarmguy]

Have you read about the UK fuel shortages during Autumn of 2000? It's a really good example about how even though society is more complex than ever, modern economies are extremely fragile and how fast society can fall when there's a slight disruption of : (1) a critical good/resources and (2) how fast everything else not directly related gets affected afterwards.

Very true, Well said, certainly better than I could say it.
Competition has companies supply lines from all over the world tied together by a shoe string in order to purchase the cheapest sources of a product they can find.

The part about UK fuel shortages is just plain complacency, relying on a major source of fuel from outside of the country instead of building out their own sources of energy some of which has to do with politics and nuclear energy I would assume.
Russia exactly a friendly country to rely on a major source of energy

 

[wpod]

That is a big issue as there is absolutely no way China would allow majority ownership of foreign entities (any) over their ports.
China was using access to its market as a stick. That is changing and we should change our policies accordingly.

They lobby our politicians $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

 

[burbguy82]

Have you read about the UK fuel shortages during Autumn of 2000? It's a really good example about how even though society is more complex than ever, modern economies are extremely fragile and how fast society can fall when there's a slight disruption of : (1) a critical good/resources and (2) how fast everything else not directly related gets affected afterwards.

I do not know anything about any fuel shortage in the UK, in 2000. I do know that fuel, by in large is a high priced commodity in Europe, but not as much in the UK. Please provide a link for my consideration, if you have a little time.