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The strike is massive in scale, affecting 50,000 ILA union longshoremen who walked off the job at ports along the East and Gulf Coasts from New England to Texas. According to CNBC, the strike began at 12:01 a.m. ET on Tuesday, after negotiations with port management fell through. This marks the first strike by the union since 1977. The ports impacted by the strike handle between 43% and 49% of all U.S. imports, amounting to billions of dollars in trade each month.
ILA President Harold Daggett has been outspoken about the union’s demands, which include a $5 per hour annual wage increase over six years, royalties for containers handled, and strict language opposing automation. The union rejected a previous offer from port management that included a significant wage hike over six years.
Truckers, who are already feeling the pinch of a strained economy, have expressed their frustration with the strike. “It’s the last thing we need right now,” one trucker said. With a recession looming, many in the transportation industry fear the widespread disruptions this strike could cause.
Harold Daggett, the union leader at the center of the strike, has long been a controversial figure. The New York Post recently described him as a “fiery union boss” who lives a life of luxury despite his claims to advocate for blue-collar workers. Daggett has been accused of ties to organized crime, including alleged connections to the Genovese crime family. He was acquitted on racketeering charges after a mobster who testified against him was found dead in the trunk of a car. Daggett’s wealth and lavish lifestyle, including owning a Bentley and a yacht, have sparked outrage among union members and the public alike.
In a September interview, Daggett didn’t mince words about the impact of the strike. “I’ll cripple you. I will cripple you, and you have no idea what that means. Nobody does,” Daggett said, making a choking gesture with his hands. His rhetoric has only added to the anxiety surrounding the strike.
Daggett has worked for the ILA for 57 years, serving as president since 2011. Last year, he received $728,000 in compensation from the ILA, in addition to $173,000 as president emeritus of a local union branch. He lives in a sprawling 7,136-square-foot home in Sparta, New Jersey, valued at $1.7 million, according to Zillow and NJ property records.
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Elon Musk recently weighed in on the controversy surrounding Daggett, retweeting a post by Max Meyer, editor of Arena Magazine. The tweet read, “Harold Daggett, the ILA boss who pledged to ‘cripple’ the United States, owns a 76-foot yacht, a Bentley, and gets paid over $900,000.” Musk responded to Meyer’s post with a single word: “Wow.”
Here is the tweet:
Musk’s reaction echoes the sentiment of many Americans who are fed up with wealthy union bosses enriching themselves at the expense of hardworking members. As the strike continues to unfold, the Biden administration’s response remains tepid. When asked about the strike, President Biden remained silent, as his wife Jill briskly walked away from the media.
For now, the future of U.S. imports and the economy remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the effects of this strike will be felt across the country, particularly as the holiday season approaches.
