Topic: Port Strike

The International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) ended its three-day strike after reaching a tentative agreement for a 62% wage increase over six years. The contract is extended until January 15th to allow for further negotiations on the critical issue of port automation. A "boots on the ground" report suggests the strike was timed to avoid hurting the Harris campaign and to bolster the retirement of union boss Harold Daggett.

The International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) began a massive strike across 14 major U.S. ports, led by President Harold Daggett. Daggett demanded a 50-50 split of container royalties and strict protections against automation, threatening to "cripple" the economy. The hosts discuss the tension between union labor and the inevitable shift toward robotic port automation seen in China.

International Longshoremen's Association President Harold Daggett threatened a massive strike across East and Gulf Coast ports starting October 1st. Daggett argued that workers deserve a share of the billions in profits made by shipping companies during the pandemic and warned that a strike would "cripple" the U.S. economy within weeks. The potential use of the Taft-Hartley Act to force a 90-day cooling-off period was also discussed.

A labor dispute at 29 West Coast ports is causing a massive backlog of container ships, severely impacting California's citrus exports. The hosts also briefly mention a gaffe by Joe Biden involving the term "butt buddy," which they dismiss as regional slang.