Staff Reports
A looming dock worker’s strike is creating waves that threaten to capsize the current presidential race and send inflation soaring faster than gas prices after a hurricane. The International Longshoremen’s Association, or ILA, is eyeing October 1 as their potential start date, should negotiations with the United States Maritime Alliance—a group that typically represents port management—fail to produce a resolution.
If the strike goes ahead, five of the busiest ports in North America will come to a grinding halt, affecting 36 ports along the East and Gulf Coasts. It’s a recipe for economic chaos that could rival the supply chain disruptions seen during the pandemic. One would think this dire situation might prompt a strong response from the president, yet Joe Biden seems ready to sit back and let the strikes roll, refusing to use his authority to step in. Perhaps he just doesn’t want to ruffle any feathers among his union pals—or maybe he’s got bigger fish to fry, considering his vice president, Kamala Harris, is in a dogfight with Donald Trump for the presidency.
A Probable Dock Worker's Strike Could Upend the Presidential Race and Cause Inflation to Spike https://t.co/Mm3jsoJPWS pic.twitter.com/Mn4jIspT5G
— AntiCorporatism.com (@CorporateState) September 24, 2024
Biden’s reluctance to intervene looks especially puzzling given that the economic fallout from a strike could be catastrophic. The ports they threaten to shut down account for nearly half of all U.S. imports. The repercussions do not merely threaten American shores; they could ripple through supply chains from Europe to Latin America. With election season intensifying, Democrats may soon find themselves in a pickle if Goods don’t get to Good Americans on time.
As the calendar inches closer to November 8, the vice presidential race is neck and neck. Harris may hold a slim two-point lead over Trump—an alarming trajectory considering Hillary Clinton had a more substantial lead in 2016 before watching it evaporate. With the potential strike coinciding with the vice presidential debate between Democrat Tim Walz and Republican Senator JD Vance, it could be the kind of perfect storm politicians dread. A strike on October 1 might remind voters that when the rubber meets the road, Democrats tend to stall out.
Some “experts” are wringing their hands over the effects of a potential work stoppage. A mere week of halted operations could seriously disrupt the supply chain and threaten the holiday shopping season—the time retailers pray for and dread simultaneously. If the work stoppage drags on, goods could end up stuck in a backlog that could stretch for weeks or even months, much to the chagrin of all celebrating families.
The United States Maritime Alliance released a statement indicating that they are “still negotiating in good faith” and want to avoid a strike. However, it sure looks like time is running out, with both sides stuck in a stalemate over wage disputes. Meanwhile, countless Americans are left to wonder how a potential inflation surge, driven by the inability to import goods, might affect their wallets just before casting their votes. The ducks are lining up for a chaotic November, and the last thing the Democratic Party needs is an economic hiccup to go along with their electoral woes.
