In Reply to: Preventing automation is a major factor in this strike. Of the posted by HasBen on October 01, 2024 at 10:22:33
The greatest job loss for longshoremen occurred decades ago with containerization which transformed the industry. The ILWU realized that this was unstoppable, so they negotiated rich early retirement, other jobs and richer pay for their members. Marine clerks and intermodal work was up for grabs too. The ILA tried to hold on and ultimately did not get as rich a deal as the ILWU.
That’s why I wondered how much was left for automation to take. All of these are ultimately economic issues. Automation is an issue in almost any large industry. UNITE HERE negotiated lengthy language on automation and job elimination in the last Strip contract, several pages replacing a paragraph or two.