The International Longshoremen's Association followed through on its threat to strike Tuesday, affecting ports from Maine to Texas -- including the one in Mobile. The union's contract expired on Tuesday. According to The Associated Press, the union's opening demands were a 77% pay raise over the six years of the next contract. The ports, represented by the United States Maritime Alliance, say they've raised their offer to 50%. The AP reports that union members make a base salary of $41,600 to $81,120 annually but that overtime takes some above $200,000. The union is also insisting on a complete ban of automated cranes, gates and trucks that move containers. The old contract allowed for automated machinery as long as humans were having to interact with it. In Alabama, International Longshoremen Association Local 1410 President Mark Bass shared his thoughts on why the dock workers ought to get more out of the next deal with the alliance: “You know, everybody can say what they want to, but they’re not subject to what we do. So, you know, I tell people, because I’m just in my 35th year, come work on the docks and live in my shoes and see how you like it. So, an average person can’t do it because we miss birthdays. We miss when anniversaries. We miss all the normal things. “We miss all that. Because, guess what, when a ship pulls in, we’re here 24 hours, seven days a week, so we’re working around the clock ... So, selfish is something that we’re not. Matter of fact, we’ve made an ultimate commitment to the United States to move commerce in and out of the country.” A big part of this conflict originated in Mobile. AL.com's John Sharp reports that an automated processing gate leading to the APM Terminals Mobile led to the sticking point over automation as workers are concerned over being replaced by machines. Obviously, that's not a unique concern in industry or history. Y'all might remember former congressman and gubernatorial candidate Bradley Byrne. He's now the president & CEO of the Mobile Chamber and called the automation issue a red herring, a distraction. He said that in Mobile's case it's there for worker safety and is being used as a negotiation tactic. The gate in question has been at the Port for 16 years. Its technology hasn't changed, and it's considered semi-automated. Other Alabama officials also took issue with the strike. Gov. Kay Ivey issued a statement: “If the ILA was genuinely fighting for their workers, they would be at the table negotiating for them. Instead, at a time when families across the country are struggling to afford the rising cost of goods and as several Southeastern states are reeling from a devastating hurricane, the ILA is showing their true colors. They have chosen to hold hostage our economy, American consumers and its own workers they claim to support.” Of course, these things often do break down along party lines, with Alabama officials leaning toward the businesses and more liberal officials leaning union. President Joe Biden indicated he's not likely to intervene when he was asked whether he might invoke the Taft-Hartley Act, which could mean a court order that would put workers back on the job for 80 days if their absence might cause an economic crisis. The president said: “Because it's collective bargaining, I don't believe in Taft-Hartley.” Economists are saying that if the strike lingers into November or longer, we might see higher prices and shortages of some retail items. But don't panic: I've checked several sources, including Forbes, and toilet paper is still mostly a domestically produced product. | 