### Historic Strike: East and Gulf Coast Dockworkers Demand Fair Wages and Job Security

In a significant labor action unseen in nearly half a century, approximately 25,000 dockworkers from ports along the East and Gulf Coasts have initiated a strike. Members of the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) walked off the job on Tuesday, advocating for higher wages and protections against job automation.

Harold Daggett, the union's president, announced through social media that the union is striving for "the kind of wages we deserve." The ILA has placed the blame for the strike on the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX), which represents the docks and ocean carriers. According to a Monday statement by the union, USMX has continuously obstructed an agreement that would resolve the dispute. "The Ocean Carriers represented by USMX want to enjoy rich billion-dollar profits they are making in 2024 while offering ILA Longshore Workers an unacceptable wage package that we reject," the statement declared.

While the strike affects 14 ports across the East and Gulf Coasts, West Coast ports remain unaffected due to representation by a different union, which successfully negotiated wage increases for its workers back in 2023. This disparity has partly fueled the current strike, as ILA workers earn significantly less than their West Coast counterparts. The expired ILA contract indicated that starting pay for dockworkers is $20 per hour, rising to $24.75 after two years and $31.90 after three years, capping at $39 for those with at least six years of service.

The ILA is now demanding a 77% increase over the duration of a new contract, with an annual $5 raise. This would bring wages to $44 in the first year, $49 in the second, and up to $69 by the final year. In contrast, the USMX has proposed a nearly 50% increase, which the ILA has rejected. "They might claim a significant increase, but they conveniently omit that many of our members are operating multi-million-dollar container-handling equipment for a mere $20 an hour. In some states, the minimum wage is already $15," the ILA stated.

Currently, the top wage for ILA dockworkers amounts to approximately $81,000 annually. However, reports from the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor reveal that about a third of local longshoremen earn $200,000 or more per year, often working up to 100 hours a week to achieve such earnings.

"Our members don't work typical 9-to-5 jobs; they work extraordinary hours, sacrificing time with their families. Our position is firm: We believe in the value our incredible rank-and-file members bring to this industry and to our great nation," asserted Daggett.

With the average U.S. salary recorded at about $59,000 in the fourth quarter of 2023 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor, the ILA’s demands highlight the challenging conditions and vital contributions of dockworkers seeking fair compensation for their labor.