Dockworker Strike Underway, Impacting 36 Major Ports

New York, NY, October 1, 2024-"Dockworkers from Maine to Texas have begun a strike, affecting 36 major ports,” reports the Associated Press. “This labor action is the first of its kind since 1977.

“About 45,000 members of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) demand higher wages and job protections against automation.

“The workers seek a 77% pay raise over six years. The ports countered with a 50% raise. Currently, dockworkers earn an average salary of $81,000, with some making over $200,000 annually.

“These ports handle 75% of the nation’s container traffic. The strike could cost the economy an estimated $5 billion daily. With potential shortages and price hikes.”