October Surprise - The Longshoreman Strike

[rmgill]

This Longshoreman union strike looks like bad news. 

The Ports of New York and Baltimore are already winding down operations. Shippers don't want containers sitting in ports rotting or degrading. 

Goods tend to come in/out on the coast most proximate to their region



https://www.bts.gov/explore-topics-and-geography/topics/freight-transportation/maritime-exports-and-imports-coast

I'm thinking the following issues will manifest

1. US goods that need foreign components or parts will become more expensive or impossible to get. 
2. European goods will go non existent. 
3. Asian goods largely come in on the port proximate to the area they are shipped to. The West coast handles many west coast goods. The east coast for east and likewise the gulf.
4. Central and South American goods that don't come up via FerroMex's tracks will become harder to get. 
5. US exports will go down. Coal from the east coast goes out on east bound ships. So the east coast coal yards will stall production. 
6. Any other US exports will see a similar throttling. 
7. Goods that are imported from the west coast and shipped by rail to Europe will also stop. If any of those final finished goods then come back from Europe, that supply chain will also be affected. 
   
   So US goods get more expensive if they're needing a foreign feed stock. Foreign goods get more expensive if available at all. US companies will see shuttering of operations and that means furloughs of workers. All right before the election. 
   
   Biden has little incentive to fix this, nor do I think he has the sagacity to do so. 
   I don't see Kamala girl bossing her way through a Longshoreman union negotiaton. 
   
   This looks like a hell of an October surprise. 

 

[Ivanhoe]

I am assuming that Harris must capitulate to the unions, and use heavy-handed threats against shippers etc. to get them to acquiesce to union demands (else industry execs get the Diddy treatment).

Recall the auto unions leverage over Obama in 2008.

 

[Tim Sielbeck]

What are the demands?

[Ivanhoe]

From the article;

Quote

The union is demanding significantly higher wages and a total ban on the automation of cranes, gates and container movements that are used in the loading or unloading of freight at 36 US ports.

 

[Ivanhoe]

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/economy/3170476/longshoremens-union-says-strike-to-start-tuesday/
 

Quote

 

The largest union representing port workers in the United States said an anticipated port strike will begin on Tuesday as negotiations have reportedly stalled.

The port strike will be on the East Coast and the Gulf of Mexico in the U.S. and includes ports from Maine to Texas.

There were no negotiations planned for either Sunday or before the midnight deadline on Tuesday between the International Longshoremen’s Association and the U.S. Maritime Alliance, which represents employers of the East Coast and Gulf Coast longshore industry, according to Reuters.

 

Gonna be fun.

[rmgill]

What's going on with Shipping. Two videos covering the impending Longshoreman Strike. 

Edited September 30, 2024 by rmgill

[Stargrunt6]

2 hours ago, rmgill said:

What's going on with Shipping. Two videos covering the impending Longshoreman Strike. 

Nice chain, Mr. President 

[Ol Paint]

Time to buy Union Pacific stock?

Doug

[Ivanhoe]

11 hours ago, Stargrunt6 said:

Nice chain, Mr. President 

 

[Mr King]

Seen people on social media in my area reporting that there is already panic buying going on. Morons are panic buying goods that don't even come from overseas.

[JWB]

Another mafia union.

 

[Stargrunt6]

Shocked, shocked.

He really gives off that mafia vibe.

[Stargrunt6]

 

[Rick]

On 10/1/2024 at 8:35 PM, Mr King said:

Seen people on social media in my area reporting that there is already panic buying going on. Morons are panic buying goods that don't even come from overseas.

Mea culpa here, I have bought a large supply of coffee.

[rmgill]

I already had a large supply of frozen coffee beans. I might buy more. Tea too. 

[Ivanhoe]

Damn,  you had to mention coffee.

If the longshoremen's union cuts me off from my Nicaraguan whole beans, I will fully support "enhanced methods" for convincing longshoremen to return to work. We're already a banana republic, might as well enjoy the benefits of such.

 

 

[rmgill]

Buy it now. Have a 3 month supply. 
 

 

[DKTanker]

8 hours ago, rmgill said:

Buy it now. Have a 3 month supply. 

 

Oh well, the strike is over.

[Ivanhoe]

Damn. Given that the ILA prez is mobbed up, I was hoping Harris would have him thrown out of Marine One at 5000 ft AGL.

[rmgill]

Are you kidding? He's probably on the White House Guest list register multiple times.