The White House finally intervened in the controversy on the renewal of the port workers' contract, which contrasts the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX), the organization that represents the main container shipping companies that call at in the ports of the East Coast and the US Gulf and several companies that operate in these ports. The threatened strike in the airports of These regions began yesterday after a few hours earlier the USMX had submitted an offer in extremis, which he said was very better than the previous ones, which however was rejected by the union which did not appreciate either the content of the proposal or the time at which it was submitted.

Many organizations representing American companies various commercial and industrial sectors had asked in the in recent weeks and in the last few hours to Joe Biden to resort to the Taft-Hartley Act which gives him the powers to suspend certain forms of strike and to impose on the opposing parties resume negotiations. Just before the start of the strike, the American president had said he did not believe in the law Taft-Hartley but rather in collective bargaining. In Biden, confirming that he believes that "the collective bargaining is the best way for workers to get the pay and benefits they deserve", although not by stating it explicitly, he sided with the trade union. "I urged the USMX, which represents a group of foreign-owned carriers - he said - sit down at the table and present a fair offer to the workers of the International Longshoremen's Association that ensures that adequate remuneration in line with their valuable contribution". Biden did not say so, but his statement suggests that The offers submitted so far by the employers' association were not congruent with the expectations of port workers and the trade union that represents them.

That Biden is aligned with the ILA's position is confirmed by the Statement by the President recalling that "carrier have made record profits since the start of the pandemic and in some cases, profits grew by more than 800% compared to those before the pandemic". A relief that follows the same equal to that moved to containerized maritime carriers by all representatives of the International Longshoremen's Association. "The executive pay - Biden continued, referring to the compensation to managers of shipping companies - is growth in line with these record earnings and earnings were distributed to shareholders It is right that the workers, who are placed at risk during the pandemic to maintain ports - observed the US president - also find a significant increase in their wages."

"As our nation recovers from the aftermath of Hurricane Helene - Biden added - port workers will play a crucial role in providing communities with the resources they need. This is not the time for carriers while collecting record profits, to refuse to trade a fair wage for these essential workers. Mine Administration - warned the president - will monitor any speculation activity on the tariffs that ocean carriers, including those represented in the USMX Board of Directors'.

"It's time," Biden concluded, leaving no room to other hypotheses on its position in the dispute between ILA and the USMX - that the USMX negotiate a fair contract with the workers reflecting the substantial contribution they have made to the economic recovery".

In the meantime, replying to the latest offer made "at the eleventh hour" by the US Maritime Alliance, and clarifying the reasons that led the union to reject it, ILA claimed that it was another attempt by the USMX "to distort the facts and deceive the public." The The union explained that the alleged "wage increase of almost 50%" was rejected "because it was not is able to adequately satisfy the requests of our members. They could support - noted the union referring to the USMX - that this is a significant increase, but opportunistically overlook the fact that many of our members manage Millions of Container Handling Equipment dollars for only $20 per hour. In some States - he recalled The union - The minimum wage is already set at 15 Dollars. In addition, our members endure an exhausting salary progression of six years before being able to reach the higher wage level, regardless of how many hours work or the commitment they put in."

"The USMX - continued the ILA - also neglects the fact that that two-thirds of our members are constantly available, without a guaranteed job if you don't work on any ship. The Our members are entitled to benefits only on the basis of hours worked the previous year, which makes them vulnerable in the event of a decline in work. However, in the context of this progressive system, there is no incentive to advance more quickly for hard-working associates. Regardless of their dedication, they have to wait for six whole years to reach the highest salary."

"Let's be clear - the union pointed out - the ILA is was immediately ready to negotiate a fair contract two years after the its expiry. The USMX's affirmation that it is ready to negotiate sounds false since they waited until the eve of a potential strike to present this offer. The latest offer of the USMX dates back to February 2023 and since then the ILA has listened to the concerns of its members, who feel unappreciated especially given the sacrifices made during the pandemic, maintaining open the ports and get the economy moving. Wage increases included in the previous contract were nullified by the increase inflation. Meanwhile, the company's own ocean carriers continue to make record profits, imposing exorbitant to consumers and customers, but they back off the idea to share these profits fairly with ILA".

Another point of contrast between the ILA and the USMX is the introduction of forms of automation in port operations. Explaining the reasons that led the union to reject the latest offer from the employers' association, the ILA has confirmed that it be "firmly opposed to any form of automation, in whole or in part, replacing posts or functions historical work conditions. We will not accept the loss of work and livelihood for our members - underlined the union - due to automation. Our position is clear: Preservation of jobs and job functions is non-negotiable".

Meanwhile, if the main shipping companies have announced, and some have already introduced, surcharge for container shipments to ports of the East Coast and the Gulf, which for the departures originating from the Far East, Europe/Mediterranean and from South America they generally stand at about 1,000-1,500 dollars for 20' foot containers, the Department of American transport, asked on behalf of the government to the carriers seafarers "to revoke their superintendents". "No one - specified the US Department - should take advantage of a block to profit, especially at a time when entire regions of the country are recovering from Hurricane Helene. The Federal Maritime Commission - the ministry specified - has declared that it will use the authority requested by the to ensure that the fees charged are legitimate, and Legal. President Biden has ordered our administration to use every authority at the federal level and to support the functional state and local authorities in the use of at their disposal".