(NORTH BERGEN, NEW JERSEY) - Tens of thousands of International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA)-represented Longshore Workers, employed at ports from Maine to Texas, are preparing for a possible Strike on Tuesday (October 1st).

Negotiations between the Union on the East and Gulf Coasts and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) have not developed further since June 10th, bringing the Union’s Rank-And-File Workers to a Strike Authorization Vote.

The contract ends on September 30th.

“A ‘sleeping giant’ is ready to roar on Tuesday if a new Master Contract Agreement is not in place,” ILA President Harold Daggett said. “Our Members have been preparing for over a year for that possibility of a Strike.”

The Dock Workers are willing and ready to stand up and walk off the job if a deal is not reached by Monday.

The ILA has pointed out USMX has opted to engage in a vicious propaganda campaign designed to portray ILA Longshore Workers as “greedy” in order to mask their own incompetence and failure in these negotiations, which began nearly two years ago when they entered into exploratory talks with the Union, the ILA said.

In a statement, the Union said: “Inflation has completely eaten into any raises and wages. Everything is more expensive, even compared to six years ago.  Our Members are struggling to pay their mortgages and rent, car payments, groceries, utility bills, taxes and in some cases, their children’s education.  USMX’s corporate greed has made them delusional - profits over people. They have taken advantage of a low entry-wage and a tiered progression system for thirty years.”

To Continue Reading This Labor News Report, Go To: East and Gulf coast dockworkers strike looming – People's World (peoplesworld.org)