President-elect Donald Trump advocated the dockworkers union on Thursday, saying automation causes “distress, hurt, and harm” to workers on U.S. docks.
Trump announced on social media that he met with International Longshoremen’s Association President Harold Daggett and Executive Vice President Dennis Daggett just weeks before their contract with the U.S. Maritime Alliance expires.
“I’ve studied automation, and know just about everything there is to know about it,” Trump posted. “The amount of money saved is nowhere near the distress, hurt, and harm it causes for American Workers, in this case, our Longshoremen. Foreign companies have made a fortune in the U.S. by giving them access to our markets. They shouldn’t be looking for every last penny knowing how many families are hurt.”
The deadline for the ILA to reach a new agreement with the USMA is on Jan. 15, but negotiations have reportedly stalled.
The automation of gates, cranes, and container-moving trucks was a driving point for the ILA when it tried to negotiate a contract with the USMA. The longshoremen demanded job security against automation, as well as a higher starting wage and better healthcare benefits.
When they couldn’t reach an agreement with the USMA, 45,000 ILA longshoremen went on strike for three days in early October, closing 36 ports on the East and Gulf coasts and causing a significant disruption to U.S. and international supply chains.
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There is still a chance foreign companies could move to other ports, causing job losses for Americans. There is a highly automated port under construction in Mexico, and Singapore, Dubai, and Rotterdam already have automated ports.
“For the great privilege of accessing our markets, these foreign companies should hire our incredible American Workers, instead of laying them off, and sending those profits back to foreign countries,” Trump wrote. “It is time to put AMERICA FIRST!”
