Port Strike Spurs Run on Essentials
A run on toilet paper not seen since the COVID era has been scrubbed with news that a port strike expected to paralyze East Coast shipping has been put off for 90 days.
Local store shelves were restocked after they were cleaned out by shoppers afraid to run short on vital paper after nearly 50,000 International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) members walked off the job last week at ports along the eastern seaboard and the Gulf of Mexico.
A prolonged strike would have choked off the flow of many of America’s imports and exports, and fear spread that it could have become the country’s most disruptive work stoppage in decades, causing shortages of not just toilet paper but also many other everyday products.
“It looks like people are buying it all up,” said Michael Gardner of East Patchogue as he bought one of the few packs of toilet paper left at the Bellport BJ’s last week. “It’s a good idea to grab some extra in case this thing drags out.”
The strike began on October 1 and was called off two days later when the Longshoremen union agreed to return to the negotiating table with the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX), the organization representing port owners. The workers were offered a 62% raise and a promise to work on a compromise on automation and other sticking points. If an agreement can’t be reached over the next three months, USMX said its raise offer would be rescinded.
Another strike would be bad news for the economy since the cargo ports from Maine to Texas handle bananas, beer, wine, liquor, furniture, clothing, household goods, autos, and parts needed to keep U.S. factories running.
“When the word started getting out, people started coming out. Toilet paper was the first to go,” said Bob Curatolo of Shirley. “If the supply chain is disrupted for too long, there’ll be a shortage of standards like bread, milk, and meat. People will have to start turning to the local farms for food.”
“If we have to be out here a month or two months, this world will collapse,” said Longshoreman President Harold Daggett when the strike was called. “Don’t blame me, blame them.” It was the first major strike on the ports since 1977.
On the other side of the bargaining table, the alliance stated: “USMX is proud of the wages and benefits we offer to our 25,000 ILA employees and strongly supports a collective bargaining process that allows us to fully bargain wages, benefits, and technology and ensures the safety of our workers day in and day out. We have demonstrated a commitment to doing our part to end the completely avoidable ILA strike.”