Trump Says Port Worker Strike, That Could Have Major Impact On Tennessee Before Christmas, Never Should Have Happened

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The Tennessee Conservative Staff –

Chattanooga’s growing logistics industry may find itself in trouble as dock workers begin to go on strike.

Nearly 50,000 dock workers went on strike Tuesday, impacting three dozen East Coast and Gulf Coast ports. Included in the list of affected ports is the Port of New York and New Jersey, which is the third-largest port in the country based on volume of cargo.

The International Longshore Association and Warehouse Union, representing dock workers across the United States, has been at odds with the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX), which represents terminal operators and ocean carriers, since June.

According to Thomas Watson of Freight Waves Media, this could be detrimental to businesses and consumers, just three months before Christmas, because the United States imports the majority of the goods sold.

“Dock workers go on strike. You’re not going to have your stuff, and it’s going to have a ripple effect that could take weeks to months to sort out,” Watson said. 

Former President Donald Trump issued a statement saying, “The situation should have never come to this and, had I been President, it would not have. This is only happening because of the inflation brought on by Kamala Harris’ two votes for massive, out-of-control spending, and her decision to cut off energy exploration. Americans who thrived under President Trump can’t even get by because of Kamala Harris – this strike is a direct result of her actions.”

Chattanooga is likely to see a major impact from this “freight-pocalypse” in its logistics economy.

“For those brokerages and customers that rely on these shipments, if they disappear, it’s going to be a bad day,” Watson stated. “Once that stops, it’s like a withering effect on the vine, and so there’s so much more that relies on it.” 

USMX issued a statement Tuesday afternoon saying, “USMX is proud of the wages and benefits we offer to our 25,000 ILA employees, and strongly supports a collective bargaining process that allows us to fully bargain wages, benefits, technology, and ensures the safety of our workers, day-in and day-out. We have demonstrated a commitment to doing our part to end the completely avoidable ILA strike. Our current offer of a nearly 50% wage increase exceeds every other recent union settlement, while addressing inflation, and recognizing the ILA’s hard work to keep the global economy running.”

Trump said, “American workers should be able to negotiate for better wages, especially since the shipping companies are mostly foreign flag vessels, including the largest consortium One.”