President Joe Biden has urged the International Longshoremen’s Association and a group of companies managing ports along the East and Gulf coasts to come to an agreement and end the strike that began at midnight on Tuesday. The President emphasized the importance of resolving the matter, citing the impacts of Hurricane Helene as a critical reason.
President Biden highlighted the essential role that dockworkers play in providing communities with the necessary resources as the nation recovers from the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. He expressed concern over ocean carriers refusing to negotiate fair wages for these essential workers despite recording significant profits. The administration has warned against any price gouging activities that may benefit foreign ocean carriers.
Despite the strike, the majority of supplies reaching hurricane victims will not be delayed, as very few relief supplies are expected to arrive in the hurricane-affected Southeast via ship.
The President called on the USMX to present a fair offer and negotiate a contract that reflects the significant contribution of longshoremen to the economic recovery. The Biden administration is actively involved in addressing the complexities and challenges posed by the strike during this critical election season.
Cabinet officials are closely monitoring the negotiations, with White House representatives engaging in discussions with the US Maritime Corporation to facilitate a resolution.
