EXPOSED: This 'October Surprise' Could Derail Kamala's Campaign
A potential strike by thousands of dockworkers at major ports along the East and Gulf coasts early next week could halt key commercial hubs that handle nearly half of all container cargo moving in and out of the U.S.
The union representing dockworkers and a shipping industry group that includes terminal operators and ocean carriers have been stuck in negotiations for months. This week, both sides issued conflicting statements about their readiness to resume talks.
The United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) has filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), asking for “immediate injunctive relief” to force the union back to negotiations, as reported by CBS News. The NLRB confirmed receipt of the complaint, which is currently under review by their Newark, New Jersey regional office. The complaint will be made public on the NLRB website in the coming days, at which point an investigation will begin.
High-level Biden administration officials, including Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, met with USMX members last Friday, urging both sides to get back to the table before the contract expires. The administration's last-minute rush to address the issue has sparked criticism, with experts warning that a strike could severely disrupt the flow of goods and increase shipping costs. Any rise in costs would likely be passed to consumers, potentially stalling the Federal Reserve's efforts to control inflation and lowering the chance of interest rate cuts.
Kamala Harris, lacking Joe Biden’s strong appeal with working-class voters, has struggled to maintain support among labor unions. Earlier this month, the Teamsters union notably withheld their endorsement, signaling frustration within labor groups. If the October 1 dockworkers’ strike goes forward, it could amplify economic uncertainty and harm the Biden-Harris administration's reputation among key union voters.
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Mary Rooke from The Daily Caller highlighted five major challenges Harris is likely to face ahead of the 2024 presidential race. Winning over blue-collar workers has been a persistent challenge for Harris, and a looming maritime strike could exacerbate these difficulties.
Rooke, like many others, points out that such a strike could cause serious supply chain disruptions across the U.S., raising prices and potentially costing the country $5 billion in trade losses per day. If the Biden-Harris administration intervenes, as it did to prevent a rail strike in 2022, there’s a risk they may alienate union workers in crucial swing states.
However, if they do not intervene, the economic fallout could deal another blow to Harris’s campaign by impacting voters nationwide.
“It’ll be devastating,” Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) told Fox News regarding the situation.
“I think people will not be seeing things on the shelves that they’re looking for. I think prices will go up. Talk about inflationary policy. There’ll be obviously a supply and demand issue that will drive up consumer prices and access to the goods that they need. And I don’t see the administration really talking about this issue. They say they’re looking at it, but we need more than just looking at it. We need them to engage to prevent this,” Malliotakis added.
The prospect of a dockworker strike only adds to voters’ growing frustration over the economy, potentially stirring an already uneasy electorate.
Though President Biden has labeled himself as the most pro-union leader in U.S. history, neither he nor his administration has yet taken significant action on this issue.
However, with the threat of a strike looming, it's unlikely that they will continue to avoid intervention much longer.