Dockworkers picketing in Philadelphia after strike called at ports along the East Coast
Dockworkers began picketing at the Port of Philadelphia early Tuesday morning, hours after the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) announced its workers would go on strike.
The strike, which began at 12:01 a.m., is impacting all major ports along the East Coast and Gulf Coast. More than 45,000 workers from Texas to Maine are rallying for better pay and job security.
In a statement posted on social media, the ILA said a proposal made by United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) on Monday "fell far short of what ILA rank-and-file members are demanding in wages and protections against automation." The USMX is a shipping industry group that represents terminal operators and ocean carriers.
"We are prepared to fight as long as necessary, to stay out on strike for whatever period of time it takes, to get the wages and protections against automation our ILA members deserve," union President Harold Daggett said in the statement.
Before the sun came up Tuesday, workers on the picket lines outside the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal in South Philadelphia carried signs with messages like, "No Work Without a Fair Contract" and "Automation Hurts Families: ILA Stands for Job Protection."
One of the union's demands is a ban on using automated cranes and other technology to load and unload freight.
"Automation puts us all out of work," said Boise Butler, president of ILA Local 1291 in Philadelphia. "This industry controls so much of the economy. It's unbelievable. We may be small in stature... but what we control as far as the economy is concerned, it's untouchable," he said.
Butler added that the union doesn't want to inconvenience people across the country with the strike but reiterated, "We're not going anywhere until we get what we deserve."
One day before the strike, the Port of Philadelphia buzzed as officials rushed to offload ships.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said Monday that he hoped both sides were working toward a deal and urged the union and USMX to "stay at the table."
Ports in New Jersey and Wilmington, Delaware also impacted by strike
Along with Philadelphia, ports in New Jersey and Wilmington, Delaware, are also closed as part of the ILA strike.
Workers in Wilmington were on the picket line early Tuesday with the same message as their Philadelphia counterparts, "profit over people."
"Port Wilmington recognizes and respects the activities associated with the ongoing contract negotiations between the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX)," a spokesperson for Port Wilmington told CBS News Philadelphia. "We are prepared for a work stoppage impacting our operations starting today. We have communicated anticipated impacts to our customers and will continue to provide regular updates until operations fully resume at Port Wilmington. We will continue to closely monitor the ongoing contract negotiations between the ILA and USMX, and we hope there is a resolution to return to business as usual as quicky as possible."
Workers at the South Jersey Port Corporation, which operates multiple terminals in the state, are also on strike.
New Jersey Business & Industry Association President and CEO Michele Siekerka said in a statement that "the stakes are too high for New Jersey and the rest of the nation to be subject to supply chain shortages, higher prices and delays" because of the strike.
"We urge the Biden administration to be at the ready to invoke Taft-Hartley to allow negotiations between both sides to continue, without negatively impacting our economy for an extended period of time," Siekerka continued.
The last time the port workers on the East and Gulf coasts went on strike was nearly 50 years ago in 1977.
This is a developing story. CBS News Philadelphia will update this article as more information becomes available.
