Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg recently took to social media to celebrate the agreement reached by the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX). However, some conservatives pushed back on the negotiation, criticizing the idea of collective bargaining, calling it a “deal with the devil.”
For context, the two groups reached a tentative agreement on a six-year contract encompassing port workers from the East and Gulf Coasts. Following the resolution, industry leaders breathed a sigh of relief as a strike was avoided that could have crippled supply chains and disrupted economic activity on a massive scale.
Buttigieg celebrated the deal between the two groups on X earlier this week. “Congratulations to ILA and USMX for reaching a tentative agreement to keep ports working and supply chains moving. The power of collective bargaining to benefit workers and the whole American economy continues to be felt across our transportation sector,” he wrote.
However, some in the comments section offered a different point of view toward the labor agreement. One user wrote, “Our ports will never recover from this; this collective bargaining is a deal with the devil.” Suggesting unions are a drag on the business environment, another person wrote, “Unions bankrupt organizations and always donate to democrats.”
Implying the move could be inflationary, another user commented, “Skyrocketing labor costs at the ports, how exactly does that benefit consumers?” Others maintained that it was positive news that the strike was avoided. “Well done to everyone involved to avoid a strike,” one person wrote. Various other political leaders and heads of industry also weighed in on the news.
President Joe Biden commented on the news, “Collective bargaining plays an important role when it comes to building a strong economy from the middle out and the bottom up. Today’s tentative agreement between the International Longshoremen’s Association and the United States Maritime Alliance shows that labor and management can come together to benefit workers and their employers.
He continued, “I applaud the dockworkers’ union for delivering a strong contract. Their members kept our ports open during the pandemic, as we worked together to unsnarl global supply chains. Thank you to the carriers and port operators who play an essential role in our nation’s economy.”
International Longshoremen’s Association President Harold Daggett stated, “[President-elect Donald] Trump clearly demonstrated his unwavering support for our ILA union and longshore workers with his statement “heard round the world” backing our position to protect American longshore jobs against the ravages of automated terminals.
Further applauding the president-elect’s critical role in preventing a crippling strike from devastating the economy, he continued, “President Trump’s bold stance helped prevent a second coast-wide strike at ports from Maine to Texas that would have occurred on January 15, 2024, if a tentative agreement was not reached.”’
National Retail Federation VP of Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold said, “We are pleased to see the ILA and USMX come to a final agreement on a new contract, as U.S. ports on the East and Gulf Coasts play a critical role in the retail supply chain.” He continued, “Providing certainty with a new contract and avoiding further disruptions is paramount to ensure retail goods arrive in a timely manner for consumers. The agreement will also pave the way for much-needed modernization efforts, which are essential for future growth at these ports and the overall resiliency of our nation’s supply chain.”
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