Port workers who help load and unload ships went on strike for the first time in 47 years. A strike is when workers stop working to show their dissatisfaction and desire for better conditions. This strike started on October 1, 2024, after their contracts ended the night before.

The port workers wanted to be paid more for their hard work. Before they went on strike, they had made $39 an hour and were naked to earn $63 an hour over the next six years. They also didn’t want machines to take over their jobs, which is automation. The Maritime Alliance offered them better retirement and healthcare options but did not agree to stop using machines.

Workers said they had only got 1% of the money made from the port, while the USMX members kept 99%. During the pandemic, customers were charged extra, making the workers feel it was unfair. They demanded, “No work without a fair contract.” The union is under Harold Daggett, who is the president of the ILA, who has helped 50,000 port workers go on strike within three dozen different port facilities.

This strike could have been costly, with losses estimated between 3.8 to 4.5 million every day. It also led to shortages of important items like bananas, oil, auto parts, and non-perishable foods, which could have increased prices.

President Biden said he would not use the Taft-Hartly Act to force the workers to return to their jobs. This act helps employers and can sometimes weaken the power of unions, which are groups that help workers get better conditions.

The strike ended on October 3rd when the USMX members, called the Maritime Alliance, agreed to pay the workers $4 more per hour. So, they will now earn $43 an hour. Every year for the next year, they will get an extra $4 an hour added to their pay.

This strike only happened on the East Coast, as West Coast port workers have different unions and agreements. Everyone watched to see what would happen next and if the workers would get the fair pay, job security, and more health-related benefits they were asking for. Now, with the new contracts and agreements, the port workers are back on the job, but who knows when the next strike will happen?