A recent strike by dockworkers on the U.S. East Coast and Gulf Coast, which disrupted significant portions of the nation’s ocean shipping, concluded on Thursday. While the strike ended after a tentative agreement on wages was reached, the underlying issue of automation remains unresolved and a key concern for labor unions.
Approximately 45,000 members of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) participated in a three-day strike that halted shipping from Maine to Texas. The workers agreed to extend their contract until January 15, 2025, while continuing negotiations. A major point of contention in these discussions is the increasing use of automation in port operations, which unions argue threatens jobs.
ILA leader Harold Daggett emphasized the need to combat automation, stating, “Machines don’t feed families” and urging workers to continue the fight against job-killing technologies. The union claims that an automated gate system at the port in Mobile, Alabama, violates their contract, as it allows for truck processing without unionized labor.
The issue of automation has surfaced in other labor disputes across North America, including a recent rejection of a final offer by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 514 in Canada, partly due to concerns over unilateral automation plans at the Port of Vancouver.
In contrast, European port workers have successfully negotiated protections against automation in their contracts. For instance, unions in the Netherlands have established agreements preventing job losses due to automation, with discussions currently underway regarding early retirement options for workers in labor-intensive roles.
While some union officials acknowledge that a certain level of automation can enhance efficiency, they draw the line at measures that threaten job security. As negotiations continue, the balance between technological advancement and job preservation remains a critical issue for dockworkers across the continent.