South Florida dockworkers join ports strike
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Illustration: Allie Carl/Axios
Thousands of unionized dockworkers at 14 major U.S. ports, including PortMiami and Port Everglades, are on strike after failing to come to terms on a new labor contract.
Why it matters: A work stoppage that lasts more than a few days will snarl supply chains, raising the prospect of higher prices and shortages of everything from auto parts to bananas as the U.S. heads into the holidays — and a presidential election.
- This is the first port strike on the East Coast since 1977, well before the rise in global trade that's made shipping an even more critical piece of the country's supply chain.
State of play: The International Longshoremen's Association, which represents some 85,000 members, said early Tuesday it "shut down" the ports at 12:01am.
- The union said it rejected the United States Maritime Alliance's (USMX) final proposal made on Monday.
Catch up fast: Negotiations started more than a year ago between the union and the USMX, which represents ocean carriers and port operators. But they stalled over the summer.
- The two sides are far apart on pay and are also at odds over automation provisions (the union wants more protections from, basically, robots taking its jobs).
What they're saying: Johnnie Dixon, president of the ILA's Fort Lauderdale chapter, told Local 10 News that the USMX offer was "laughable" and fueled by "corporate greed."
- On Tuesday morning, more than 100 workers were at Port Everglades picketing, the outlet reported.
The other side: USMX defended its offer in a statement Monday, arguing it would "increase wages by nearly 50 percent [and] triple employer contributions to employee retirement plans," among other provisions.
Zoom in: The strike does not impact cruise ship operations, nor would it affect fuel deliveries in Port Everglades, according to the Miami Herald.
Between the lines: Miami-Dade County owns the port and machinery used by freight companies, but private companies oversee cargo operations, per the Herald.
Go deeper: Thousands of dockworkers strike at East Coast and Gulf ports
More: Why East and Gulf coast ports strike could push up consumer prices