In the United States, the dockers’ strike is bad news for Kamala Harris

UNITED STATES – A bad end-of-term gift for Joe Biden and a huge stone in Kamala Harris’ shoe. Dockworkers in ports on the east coast of the United States began a large-scale strike on Tuesday, October 1. Bad news for the Democratic administration and therefore for the vice-president just one month before the presidential election.

The social movement resulted from the failure of negotiations between dockworkers and their employers. The first demanded an increase “deserved” of 77% of salaries over six years. “We never closed the port during Covid. (Our) members lost their lives when people worked from home. My men were on the docks every day”said Harold Daggett, president of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), the majority union among dockworkers, in a video. The union is also calling for a freeze on all port automation.

Despite more than four months of talks with employees, the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX), which represents employers at 36 ports scattered from Maine to Texas, refused to grant their request. The USMX also recalled that its offer included a salary increase of “nearly 50%”. “We have demonstrated our commitment to doing our part to end the ILA strike which was completely avoidable”affirmed the Alliance.

Joe Biden on the side of the dockers

This impasse led the union’s approximately 45,000 dockworkers to begin their strike, the first major strike on the American coast since 1977. Enough to give the Democratic administration a cold sweat while the economy is barely recovering from its collapse. record inflation which has contributed to the unpopularity of Joe Biden since he has been in the White House.

The latter, who presents himself as a social president and close to the unions (rightly), gave his support to the strikers: “It is only fair that workers, who took risks during the pandemic to keep ports open, also see their wages increase significantly. » Et Joe Biden d’“exhort” l’USMX « to present a fair offer to workers”.

The transport of hydrocarbons and agricultural products, or even cruises, should be affected only very slightly, if at all. On the other hand, former White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney warned on SkyNews: “(This strike) could have strong impacts on the economy as we approach Christmas. Most of the goods going into stores this Christmas have already been ordered and are currently in transit. If they do not arrive, this could cause a spike in inflation perhaps in the short term. »

A risk of inflation

That is to say before the presidential election on November 5. “(It) can completely change the course of the election.” This is not something that parties can control. It’s not a scandal” and yet, “It certainly won’t help the party in power”he continues. Mick Mulvaney specifies that “If the strike lasts a few days, there will be no impact. But if it lasts for a week or two, it could be what we call “the October surprise”.

Loren Smith, analyst specializing in transport subjects and founder of the Skyline Policy Risk Group research group, also told the specialist media FreightWaves that a strike lasting more than a week would have major consequences on the economy. “Cargo ships take months to catch up after a week-long closure. This would be a shock to the market and destabilizing for many players in the supply chain,” he emphasizes.

The specialist adds that such an event “would support the narrative that the economy is unstable”. Which is a huge concern for Kamala Harris, when the economy is the number one priority for voters and the Democrat does not have the confidence of Americans on the subject. Unlike his rival Donald Trump.

Trump blames Democratic administration

Unsurprisingly, the Republican has already accused the Democratic administration of being responsible for this strike, believing that Joe Biden “ should have worked out an agreement between them.” The dockers represent “ the force lives » of the country, they were very affected by inflation »he added.

To avoid a protracted social movement and dramatic political consequences for the Democratic camp, the executive is on deck. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said this Wednesday, October 2 on American television that he would “Continue to put pressure on the parties. We are in constant dialogue” and called the parties to come “at the negotiating table”.

For his part, Harold Daggett of the ILA union warned that dockworkers were “ready to fight as long as necessary, to stay on strike as long as it takes, to obtain the salaries and protections that (the) members deserve. »

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