Port strikes put Democrats in a bind just weeks ahead of Election Day
A dockworkers strike threatens to harm shipping, manufacturing, pre-holiday retail inventories — and Vice President Kamala Harris' bid for the presidency.
WASHINGTON — A dockworkers' strike threatens to harm shipping, manufacturing, pre-holiday retail inventories — and Vice President Kamala Harris' bid for the presidency.
The International Longshoreman's Association went on strike at 14 ports along the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico at midnight Tuesday, just hours before Harris' running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, squares off in a debate in New York with former President Donald Trump's pick for the No. 2 job, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio.
The dockworkers are demanding a pay raise and restrictions on the use of automation at ports, which they say could lead to job losses. They have been at an impasse with the United States Maritime Alliance, or USMX, which represents shipping and port operations companies.
As polls show Harris trailing Trump on the question of who is best suited to handle the economy, the work stoppage puts Democrats in a bind. As the party in power in the White House, they are more likely to be held responsible for any significant economic disruption. But, with voters already casting ballots in some states, they can't afford to alienate union allies — the ILA is getting support from the AFL-CIO, the Teamsters and other labor organizations — by forcing an end to the dispute.
Various agency heads briefed President Joe Biden and Harris that the potential for disruption — including in fuel, food and medicine — would be minimal in the short term, the White House said Tuesday. The White House also said Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, acting Labor Secretary Julie Su and national economic adviser Lael Brainard are in direct contact with the USMX and the ILA to keep the negotiations moving forward.
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