Probably the highest paid “blue-collar” workers in America, unionized dock workers, are engaged in a work slowdown in order to leverage their position in contract negotiations with the association representing companies that operate marine terminals. The average unionized dockworker makes $147,000 a year in wages.
According to USA Today “the association said it was making an “all-in” five-year contract offer that would boost wages by 3% a year, offer full health care benefits and a maximum $88,800 annual retirement benefit.”
The Huffington Post reports “Talks have stalled over how to arbitrate future workplace disputes. Some of the biggest issues, including health care, have been resolved with tentative agreements.”
So wages and health care are not significantly in dispute, just the fine points of going along with court appointed arbitration (and the ability to put a stranglehold on commerce). We are sure the social justice crowd will be right on top of the situation.
New port shutdown could hurt local economy
Kern County’s agriculture industry may suffer a tremendous loss of product this month, and be hit hard financially.
County ag officials say that’s because of a damaging labor dispute across the state between shipping companies and dockworkers. . . .
Thursday, a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers, including House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Congressmen David Valadao, urged for a quick resolution to the contract negotiations.
“I come from an area that’s devastated because of water, it’s agriculture. they’re taking trees out, unemployment is much higher. In some places 30 percent… in some parts of the central valley. But now the produce that they are able to produce with what little water they have is being perishable and rotting on these docks,” McCarthy said.
We can practically hear the sermons from the usual suspects in the region about greed and worker’s rights and the 1% . Of course confiscating and redistributing all the wealth of the 1% wouldn’t significantly affect the economic position of the 99%. Well yes it would. It would destroy chances for sustainable improvement because there would be no incentive for the economic engine of innovation, risk, and sweat equity that generates the rising tide that raises all boats.
Speaking of bullying tactics that hurt the innocent:
Just say’n.
yeah, much better before Unions. social justice crowd? why is social justice only good for the top 1% and big Corps.?