Union boss on US ports strike: ‘I’m not playing games’

Talks on a new deal were stalled for months ahead of the strike, but the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX), which represents shipping firms and port associations, said that the two sides had started to trade proposals again.

Under the 2018 contract that expired on Monday, dockworkers earned a base hourly wage of $20-$39, as well as other benefits, including royalties tied to container traffic.

It said its most recent offer would boost pay by nearly 50%, triple company contributions to retirement and improve healthcare, among other concessions. It also said it had asked the union to agree to extend the current deal to allow for negotiations.

However, the ILA’s Mr Daggett said that there had been “nothing” so far to bring the union and companies together to end the strike.

He said he was prepared to keep the ports shut until companies agreed to boost hourly pay by $5 for each year of the contract. The union, which has about 47,000 active members according to federal filings, is also seeking protections against automation.

“I’m going to fight for it because those greedy companies are making billions of dollars and they don’t want to share,” he said. “I want my members taken care of for the rest of their lives and that’s why we’re out here.”