Dockworkers Strike Escalates: Union Negotiator Boldly Threatens to ‘Cripple’ US Economy

A video of Harold Daggett – the chief negotiator of the International Longshoreman’s Association – threatening to “cripple the U.S. economic system” has been released.

 

Dockworkers walked off the job on Tuesday at 12:01 am Eastern time. The union feared that shortly, robotics and artificial intelligence would be able to take over their job. So they doubled down and demanded a significant wage increase.

 

According to reports, the ILA wants an increase of $5 per hour, every year. This would represent a 12.8% immediate pay hike over the top hourly wage of $39 currently. If the ILA were to increase wages by $5 per hour each year, the total would be 77% for the contract.

 

The union also wants to ban the use of automation within their industry.

 

The video, which has been viewed by millions of people since the start of the strike, shows Queens-born Daggett wearing a gold necklace around his neck describing in detail the effects the strike will have on the U.S. economic system if it is allowed to continue.

 

 

Every port was locked down when my men went on the streets, from Maine to Texas.

 

You know what’s going to happen?

I’ll tell you.

First week, be all over the news every night, boom, boom, second week.

Guys who sell cars can’t sell cars, because the cars ain’t coming in off the ships.

They get laid off.

Third week, malls are closing down.

They can’t get the goods from China.

They can’t sell clothes.

They can’t do this.

Everything in the United States comes on a ship.

They go out of business.

Construction workers get laid off because the materials aren’t coming in.

The steel’s not coming in.

The lumber’s not coming in.

They lose their job.

 

Everyone hates the longshoremen because they now realize how important their jobs are.

 

He is not wrong and doesn’t hesitate to sum up the extent of the strike. “I’ll cripple you and you don’t know what that means.” No one knows.”

 

Watch the video to fully appreciate Daggett’s thick New York accent as he threatens to cripple the U.S. Economy. He looks like a central casting actor.

 

 

Bada bing, bada boom. It would be almost funny if it weren’t for the high costs to Americans who are just recovering from a supply chain failure and now face another.

 

Here’s an example of Daggett’s lavish lifestyle, lest you think he is a man of the people.

 

Politico reported that despite his blue-collar credentials, the union baron made $728,000 from the ILA last year, plus an additional $173,000 in the role of president emeritus for a local branch.

 

According to The New York Times, he owned a yacht of 76 feet, called the Obsession. His members have seen him riding in a luxury Bentley.

 

Mr. Daggett may be able to afford a long-drawn-out strike but it will cause great harm to many Americans. Joe Biden isn’t bothered about getting off the beach, and Kamala Harris cannot figure out how to plug her earbuds in.

 

Biden said Monday that he would not get involved in the dockworker’s strike, despite previously interfering in a possible rail worker strike. Biden refused to get involved in this strike because he did not believe in the Taft-Hartley Act.

 

 

This strike could be a major negative for Kamala Harris with only five weeks left until the elections. We will keep you informed.