by Trent D.
The early end to the long-awaited International Longshoreman Association (ILA) strike on the east coast has raised questions about why it was ended so soon despite the union having so much momentum, sending roughly 45,000 striking workers across dozens of ports back to work after only three days. Financial analysts in the pay of capitalists had predicted a lengthy strike that would cost capitalists billions of dollars a day—a potentially powerful blow to be dealt by the workers. The last time the ILA went on strike—back in 1977—workers won gains in pay and stipulations around automation after 45 days. This time, the strike was quickly called off by ILA President Daggett, with some longshoremen telling The Worker that the deal was made behind their backs and sold out their interests.
“It’s bullshit. We didn’t get what we were supposed to be getting,” a longshoreman told The Worker, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Several longshoremen emphasized that the decision to end the strike left “unresolved issues”, and that it was just “kicking the can down the road”, “postpon[ing] things that could have been rectified.” Workers felt that the decision had been made behind their backs and without their input, essentially being told, according to one worker: “strike is over, go back to work.”
The ILA went on strike on midnight October 1st immediately after their contract expired, coming after months of failed negotiations with the monopoly port conglomerate US Maritime Alliance. Striking workers demanded a 77% pay raise following years of stagnating raises amid windfall profits and an end to the hated automation roll-outs, which breached their contract.
Several of the longshoremen that spoke to The Worker emphasized that automation was the main problem they were up against. Despite this, the prematurely-ended strike only “settled” the question of pay—itself a comprise that only gave a 62% pay increase over 6 years. Even with this comprise, monopoly media was quick to demonize workers by deceptively reporting on their pay and working conditions, often times focusing only on the maximum pay of workers while overlooking their dangerous working conditions. “What I saw in the media was a low blow. I saw their spin. They were making it out like we’re some greedy ass guys. They think anyone can do this. They don’t know people’s stories,” one longshoreman told The Worker. The question of automation has been postponed until mid-January, when the new agreement is set to expire.
For workers, automation under capitalism means mass-layoffs, an increase in work tempo, and more dangerous working conditions, as the fewer remaining workers are forced to work at the pace of machines. Capitalists automate in the midst of crisis to reduce production costs and compete with other capitalists to maximize their profits. Though they argue that this lowers the prices for everyone, the reality of monopolization enables capitalists to maintain artificially high prices, with both workers and consumers getting the short end of the deal. Instead of being used to increase the welfare of society, automation under capitalism is an inherent feature of the blind drive to maximize profits for the few who own the means of production at the expense of the majority of society.
Several workers pointed at the highly profitable holiday season as to why the strike was ended so soon. “They get most of the stuff out during Thanksgiving and Christmas. They won’t care what we do in January,” one longshoremen told The Worker. Others pointed at the election: “The election is coming up. It’s too much of a coincidence.” A few workers either openly or subtly pointed at union president Daggett selling them out, with one suggesting that he is “in bed” with politicians. Under their contract, ILA union bureaucrats benefit from a faster work tempo and higher rate of exploitation, as they receive a piece-rate bonus system that amounts to many times more funding than they get from workers’ dues.
Workers are told to make comprises in the interests of capital and in return are given a pat on the back from their exploiters. They are slandered as being greedy by billionaires and their mouthpieces, and threatened with government intervention by both ruling parties. Despite all their wretched lies and anti-worker propaganda, the capitalists have only delayed the resolution of the battle for three and a half months; in the meantime, the struggle continues.
