Kamala Harris Supports ILA Port Strike, Joining Joe Biden

Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris on Wednesday expressed her support for the tens of thousands of dock workers on strike for better wages and job security.

“This strike is about fairness,” Harris said in a statement. “Liquidators, who play a vital role in moving essential goods across America, deserve a fair share of these record profits.”

The International Longshoremen Association (ILA) went on strike early Tuesday morning after its contract with the group representing shipping companies, terminal operators and port associations expired. About 45,000 workers are on picket lines at more than a dozen major ports that collectively represent about 51 percent of the nation’s port capacity.

The union is pushing for protection against automationnew technologies in terminals and salary increases.

Between 2018 and 2024, employees received a $1 per hour increase in their pay, up to a maximum of $38 per hour – about $79,000 annually per 40-hour work week – while new hires started at $20 per hour. The ILA rejected the alliance’s latest offer, which would have raised wages by nearly 50 percent, tripled employer contributions to retirement plans and kept the current language around automation.

One statement On Tuesday, the ILA said the offer put forward by the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) ignored the fact that “many” workers start at that $20 an hour wage and that members “endure a grueling six-year wage progression” before reaching the highest salary level.

“Our members don’t work regular 9-to-5 jobs; they work extraordinary hours, sacrificing time with their families,” ILA said. “Our position is firm: We believe in the value our incredible senior members bring to this industry and our great nation.”

Besides Harris, the peasants were endorsed by President Joe Biden and Labor Secretary Julie Su, who called on the parties to return to the bargaining table and give workers “the benefits they deserve.” More unions — from the Teamsters to the United Auto Workers to the Association of Flight Attendants — also supported the ILA strike.

“My administration will monitor any price gouging activity that benefits foreign ocean carriers, including those on the USMX board,” Biden said Tuesday. Several USMX members, including Maersk (AMKBY) and Hapag-Lloyd (HPGLY), plans to implement strike-related surcharges later this month.

Read more: The US port strike is bad news for farmers, furniture stores – and everyone else

The vice president also took aim at her rival, former President Donald Trump, on Wednesday, pointing to his recent comments about firing striking workers. UAW slaps Trump and Tesla (TSLA) CEO Elon Musk with federal employment taxes in August after the former president praised Musk’s history of anti-union sentiment, which he has affected at least two of his companies.

Most of those in the US the big unions they supported Harris, the Teamsters union being a notable exceptionalthough many locals have since offered him support. On Wednesday, Harris reaffirmed his commitment to pass pro-work Protecting the Right to Organize.

In his statement on Tuesday, Trump claimed that the strikes were “just happening” because of inflation, which he blamed on Harris. Although he stopped short of endorsing the ILA, Trump expressed some support for their efforts.

“American workers should be able to negotiate for better wages, especially since shipping companies are mostly foreign-flagged ships, including the largest consortium One,” the former president said.