Thousands of Port Workers Just Went On Strike
New vehicle prices don’t need a reason to climb any higher than they already are, but that’s the situation the nation is facing. Coastal port workers in locations stretching from Maine to Texas recently went on strike, which could slow imports and drop havoc on the auto retail industry.
The strike went into effect this morning, despite port management officials offering higher wages to the union. Representatives said they’d offered an almost 50 percent wage hike and other proposals in the 24 hours leading up to the strike. In a statement, the rep said, “We are hopeful that this could allow us to fully resume collective bargaining around the other outstanding issues – in an effort to reach an agreement.”
The labor union represents 45,000 workers, and the strike could end up costing the economy billions per day. Everything from vehicles to food enters the country through coastal ports, making them vital lifelines for consumers and businesses. The action could also impact thousands of jobs, as industries reliant on imported goods may be left without raw materials and other necessary products.
This is the first large-scale strike in almost five decades, and it’s already having an impact. Port authorities said the terminals closed at 5 p.m. ET yesterday and noted that almost 100,000 containers would be held in storage until the strike is over. Another 35 container ships carrying an unknown number of containers will arrive over the next week and will also be held.
[Images: Roman Babakin, Daniel Write98, mzabarovsky via Shutterstock]
Become a TTAC insider. Get the latest news, features, TTAC takes, and everything else that gets to the truth about cars first by subscribing to our newsletter.
Chris grew up in, under, and around cars, but took the long way around to becoming an automotive writer. After a career in technology consulting and a trip through business school, Chris began writing about the automotive industry as a way to reconnect with his passion and get behind the wheel of a new car every week. He focuses on taking complex industry stories and making them digestible by any reader. Just don’t expect him to stay away from high-mileage Porsches.
More by Chris Teague
Latest Car Reviews
Read moreLatest Product Reviews
Read moreRecent Comments
- 28-Cars-Later "“It’s a very serious offense,” Friedlander said. “It’s not a parking ticket, let’s put it that way.""Well if it doesn't involve jail time, what's the difference?
- Syke Seriously looking at one for next spring (and I've pointedly NEVER owned a full-sized pickup). Pity I'll be trading in a Bolt.
- Cprescott The truck was a deal when first launched. It is not a deal now and appears to be only good to be an urban cowboymobile instead of a serious truck based on range issues.
- Kwik_Shift_Pro4X It is a money losing venture. Like a country that is $35 trillion in debt and still able to give away tens of billions of dollars when asked.
- SCE to AUX YTD sales of the Lightning are up 86% vs 2023, but I was told here that sales were dropping. https://insideevs.com/news/735988/ford-record-ev-sales-q3-2024/
Comments
Join the conversation