In the USA, tens of thousands of dock workers who are responsible for, among other things, loading food are currently on strike. What happens to bananas etc. that don’t reach their destination?
The US government is pushing for a quick agreement regarding the dock workers’ strike – also to prevent food loaded in containers from spoiling. “It will be difficult to get to the containers while work is stopped,” said US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in response to a journalist’s question about reports of bananas stuck in a port. President Joe Biden has therefore called on freight forwarders in particular to concentrate on ensuring that collective bargaining moves forward. “This is the most effective way to get the bananas where they belong,” Vilsack said. He hopes that the parties will come to the table.
Around a month before the US presidential election, the strike threatens to disrupt American foreign trade. On Tuesday, workers at many ports on the East Coast stopped work. A new employer offer with almost 50 percent more income could not prevent the strike.
About half of US container throughput goes through East Coast ports. The strike by members of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) union could quickly have an impact and cost hundreds of millions of dollars a day. The White House urged the ILA and the employers’ representative group USMX to reach an agreement.
The ILA members load and unload ships and are responsible for maintaining the port technology. The union points to the billions in profits in container shipping.
Source: Stern
