Port Union Strike

[Ben]

The East Coast port union is on strike. Pretty bad timing, considering the disaster. It will be interesting to see what the supply chain issues are.

This is another reason I think unions suck. They're always "Rah rah America! Support America and American workers!". If they really believed that, they would have postponed their strike for at least a couple of weeks, to allow for disaster mitigation, rather than adding fuel to the fire, which they are obviously doing in hopes of leveraging their position.

Among other things, they appear to be asking for $5/hr increases "across the board" for the next six years, as well as a total ban on port automation. From what I've been reading related to the strike, port automation in Japan and China is incredibly efficient and cost-effective. I'm thinking that's likely where the industry is heading internationally, so a ban in the US would be a pretty big albatross around our neck.

[WLJ]

What will be interesting to watch is how the Jill administration handles this and what effect this will have on the election if it has anywhere near the effect many are saying it will have on the supply chain.

[Ben]

What will be interesting is how the Jill administration will handle this and what effect this will have on the election if it has the effect many are saying it will have on the supply chain.

Last I saw on the news, Brandon said he's not getting involved.

[dogmush]

I hope this hastens Port Automation.

[WLJ]

Last I saw on the news, Brandon said he's not getting involved.

Perhaps publicly that's what they're saying but I would bet privately they're in panic trying to call in favors with the unions and pressuring the companies as they're probably worried what effect a sudden shortage of goods and spike in prices will have on the election if this goes on for any length of time. For the current admin the timing couldn't have been worse starting just a month before the election.

[Boomhauer]

Unions should be illegal

[Northwoods]

Unions should be illegal

Public sector unions definitely.  Even FDR said as much.

Private sector unions though would be tricky to outlaw.  Freedom of association and all that.  But, universal "right to work" should happen. If you can't compel unions membership to have a job the unions have to provide tangible value.  That would weaken them tremendously.

[Brad Johnson]

Among other things, they appear to be asking for $5/hr increases "across the board" for the next six years, as well as a total ban on port automation.

They're couching it primarily in terms of the former, but the latter is their ultimate goal. Even that is misleading. They're giving lip service to protecting jobs but what they're really doing is protecting their own asses. Automation-related declines in port staffing equals less money in the Union coffers and a significant reduction in their already-declining socioeconomic power/influence.

Brad

[Ben]

I think unions had their place and some validity a hundred years ago, but like so many groups, fell into, "Give them an inch, they take a mile" territory. When I was a young fella working at the county dump, I was in the public employees union there. Much of the reason was because I was just young and ignorant, some of it from peer pressure.

I worked at the dump for 5 years and lasted 2 in the union before I told them to get bent. Besides the fact that the shop steward was a jackass lazy bastard that took advantage of the union to benefit himself, the final straw for me was actually the union rep in the suit. He would come out every time there was an election and basically tell us (as in giving an order) who we had to vote for. Nobody tells me who or what to vote for. Being in a union was a small part of my life, but they wanted me to vote like it was my entire life, and even if voting their way would negatively impact my life, tough *expletive deleted*it - sacrifice for the union!

[De Selby]

Unions should be illegal

Definitely. How dare they push for higher wages, decent medical care, and other random society benefits their members might ask for.


It’s obvious America is way better off since the decline of its unions today. I’m sure you’ve written your boss a thank you card for how good you have it, and would never be worried about telling him or other potential employers how poorly they manage their shops. Non union companies just make it so much more free to speak!

[WLJ]

This country relies way too much on imports

[Northwoods]

This country relies way too much on imports

There is a re-shoring process underway.

Amazingly you can run a fully automated textile shop here now more cheaply than a sweatshop in Asia.

[HankB]

Union supporters, I ask you this: Where's Jimmy Hoffa?

[WLJ]

Union supporter: Where's Jimmy Hoffa?

With Elvis eating some biscuits and gravy at a DQ

[Boomhauer]

Definitely. How dare they push for higher wages, decent medical care, and other random society benefits their members might ask for.


It’s obvious America is way better off since the decline of its unions today. I’m sure you’ve written your boss a thank you card for how good you have it, and would never be worried about telling him or other potential employers how poorly they manage their shops. Non union companies just make it so much more free to speak!

I’m a man so unlike the union beta *let's not go there* I am perfectly capable of negotiating my employment terms myself as I have done my entire working life.

[Northwoods]

I’m a man so unlike the union beta *let's not go there* I am perfectly capable of negotiating my employment terms myself as I have done my entire working life.

My buddy at Boeing makes less than I do.  We're both stress engineers, both in the Puget Sound,  both 20+ years experience. He's represented by a union (SPEEA).  I'm not in a union.

Granted his health insurance is a better deal.  But otherwise my benefits are about the same.

I see zero value in SPEEA for him.

[Ben]

Definitely. How dare they push for higher wages, decent medical care, and other random society benefits their members might ask for.

"Random society benefits". Like the demand for a ban on port automation. Port automation would benefit the rest of society, which they don't care about.

Chalk me up as another guy who did much better without a union. Unions are the chains of Harrison Bergeron.

[WLJ]

Guy on another forum said people are loading their carts up at Costco like it's 2020 again

[Lennyjoe]

Guy on another forum said people are loading their carts up at Costco like it's 2020 again

Another TP run like what happened during Covid….

[WLJ]

Another TP run like what happened during Covid….

Just checked Sams, shows out

[Ben]

Another TP run like what happened during Covid….

Man, am I glad I just got a bidet. 

[K Frame]

Jesus, people are *expletive deleted*ing retarded panic monkeys.

Virtually ALL toilet paper used in the US is product in the United States and from US-sourced materials.

*expletive deleted*ing imbeciles.

[WLJ]

Jesus, people are *expletive deleted*ing retarded panic monkeys.

Virtually ALL toilet paper used in the US is product in the United States and from US-sourced materials.

*expletive deleted*ing imbeciles.

Made the same observation in the other forum

[BobR]

With Elvis eating some biscuits and gravy at a DQ

Are they getting a to go bag for JFK? 

bob

[Ben]

S2 Underground has some interesting comments on how this union is shooting themselves in the foot by having turned down a 50% raise, creating a situation that actually promotes port automation, and also is pretty much killing any goodwill they might have had by the union boss's statement about wanting the world to burn until they get what they want.

They had already lost me at turning down a 50% pay increase. That's the mafia, not a union.

https://youtu.be/oVh4YxvNtBI