Dock worker strike to have minimal impacts in Central Florida – for now The decision to strike at midnight at many of the Eastern United States’ biggest ports will not be felt by consumers unless the strike drags on for weeks or months, economists predict. (WFTV Staff/WFTV)
ORLANDO, Fla. — The decision to strike at midnight at many of the Eastern United States’ biggest ports will not be felt by consumers unless the strike drags on for weeks or months, economists predict.
The strike – the first of its kind since the 1970′s – was anticipated by retail giants and industry analysts well in advance, allowing the supply chain to brace itself in addition to practices implemented after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Port Canaveral is not included in the strike because it’s non-union, but Miami, Jacksonville and Tampa are. Tampa is Central Florida’s biggest concern because fuel flows from the port to a pipeline in Orange County.
However, Kinder Morgan executives said their operations aren’t being impacted.
“We do not expect any impacts,” a spokeswoman wrote in response to questioning Tuesday.
Retail chains said they already have some consumer goods in their warehouses in anticipation of the upcoming holiday season.
UCF economist Sean Snaith said perishable items – particularly bananas, which are shipped instead of flown – could be the first item to become scarce, but it would take weeks before consumers would notice.
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Port Strike Hundreds of longshoremen strike together outside of the Virginia International Gateway in Portsmouth, Va., Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (Billy Schuerman/The Virginian-Pilot via AP) (Billy Schuerman/AP)
Longshoreman Strike International Longshoreman's Association President, Harold J. Daggett speaks to union workers at the Port Newark/Elizabeth-Port Authority Marine Terminal complex on Tuesday Oct. 1, 2024 in New Jersey. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah) (Stefan Jeremiah/AP)
Port Strike Longshoremen pose for a photo while picketing at Bayport Terminal on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Annie Mulligan) (Annie Mulligan/AP)
Port Strike Striking Philadelphia longshoreman picket outside the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal Port, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024.(AP Photo/Ryan Collerd) (Ryan Collerd/AP)
Port Strike Longshoremen strike at midnight at Bayport Terminal on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Annie Mulligan) (Annie Mulligan/AP)
Port Strike Third generation longshoreman Ray Bailey Jr. trustee of ILA Local 1291 encourages picketers outside the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal Port, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024.(AP Photo/Ryan Collerd) (Ryan Collerd/AP)
Port Strike Striking Philadelphia longshoreman picket outside the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal Port, Tuesday, Oct. 01, 2024.(AP Photo/Ryan Collerd) (Ryan Collerd/AP)
Port Strike Hundreds of longshoremen strike together outside of the Virginia International Gateway in Portsmouth, Va., Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (Billy Schuerman/The Virginian-Pilot via AP) (Billy Schuerman/AP)
Port Strike Longshoremen strike at midnight at Bayport Terminal on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Annie Mulligan) (Annie Mulligan/AP)
Port Strike Longshoremen strike at midnight at Bayport Terminal on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Annie Mulligan) (Annie Mulligan/AP)
Port Strike Hundreds of longshoremen strike together outside of the Virginia International Gateway in Portsmouth, Va., Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (Billy Schuerman/The Virginian-Pilot via AP) (Billy Schuerman/AP)
Port Strike Longshoremen Meikysha Wright and others strike together outside of the Virginia International Gateway in Portsmouth, Va., Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (Billy Schuerman/The Virginian-Pilot via AP) (Billy Schuerman/AP)
Port Strike Longshoremen strike at midnight at Bayport Terminal on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Annie Mulligan) (Annie Mulligan/AP)
Port Strike Hundreds of longshoremen strike together outside of the Virginia International Gateway in Portsmouth, Va., Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (Billy Schuerman/The Virginian-Pilot via AP) (Billy Schuerman/AP)
Port Strike Boise Butler, president of ILA Local 1291, speaks to the press outside the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal Port in Philadelphia, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ryan Collerd) (Ryan Collerd/AP)
Port Strike Philadelphia longshoremen hang the flag of the International Longshoremen's Association on a fence outside the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal Port, preparing to strike, as their contract runs out at midnight, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Ryan Collerd) (Ryan Collerd/AP)
Port Strike Boise Butler, president of ILA Local 1291, speaks to the press outside the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal Port in Philadelphia, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ryan Collerd) (Ryan Collerd/AP)
Port Strike Philadelphia longshoremen assembled outside the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal Port begin to strike as their contract runs out at midnight, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ryan Collerd) (Ryan Collerd/AP)
Port Strike Philadelphia longshoremen assembled outside the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal Port begin to strike as their contract runs out at midnight, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ryan Collerd) (Ryan Collerd/AP)
Port Strike Boise Butler, president of Local 1291, chants along with his fellow longshoremen outside the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal Port in Philadelphia, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ryan Collerd) (Ryan Collerd/AP)
Port Strike Boise Butler, president of ILA Local 1291, speaks to the press outside the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal Port in Philadelphia, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ryan Collerd) (Ryan Collerd/AP)
Port Strike The International Longshoremen’s Association flag and an American flag fly together outside the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal Port as workers prepare to strike as their contract runs out at midnight, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Ryan Collerd) (Ryan Collerd/AP)
Port Strike Boise Butler, president of Local 1291, with an American flag on his wheelchair, pickets with his fellow longshoremen outside the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal Port in Philadelphia, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ryan Collerd) (Ryan Collerd/AP)
Port Strike Striking Philadelphia longshoremen picket outside the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal Port, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ryan Collerd) (Ryan Collerd/AP)
“The longer the strike lasts, and the more of an impact that we’re going to see over time,” Snaith said, before referencing the shortages seen in the wake of the pandemic. “I don’t think that this is going to be as severe as that, because there were other factors.”
Snaith said the upcoming election in November could play into consumers’ favor, since a crashing economy would be something politicians want to avoid.
“Ending the strike would benefit politicians, so we just get a pleasant side effect from the politicians doing what’s best for them,” he said.
President Biden said he does not plan to invoke his power to order an 80-day “cooling off” period for the strike, framing the argument as a collective bargaining issue.
The sticking points, according to reports from picketing members, is the threat of automation to many of their jobs and demands for higher pay.
Some politicians have taken to social media to point out longshoremen make well above the industry average and say they’re holding the economy “hostage” and unable to modernize if demands to avoid automation are met.
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