President-elect Donald Trump has publicly backed the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), which is preparing to strike over automation at US ports in mid-January. The union, representing over 40,000 dockworkers, went on strike for three days in October due to concerns about job replacement by robots.
Trump stated that he understands the impact of automation on workers, saying it causes “distress, hurt, and harm” despite potential cost savings. The ILA’s old contract included a provision requiring union approval for port automation, but the union sought stricter language at the time.
The strike was temporarily suspended after the Biden administration helped reach a deal extending the contract to January 15. However, the threat of another prolonged shutdown remains, which could impact US exports and global markets. Industry analysts warn that the strike could result in losses of up to $1 billion per day for the US economy.
Source: https://thehill.com/policy/technology/5038462-trump-backs-dockworkers-union-preparing-to-strike-over-automation