RICHMOND, Va. — On September 26, Gov. Glenn Youngkin sent a letter to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, urging them to intervene in the ongoing longshoremen’s union strike impacting 36 ports along the East Coast, from Maine to Texas.
The livelihoods of workers in Virginia and across the country, along with the stability of our economy, hinge on resolving this strike quickly, Youngkin stated. A failure to act will only raise prices, disrupt trade, and worsen the challenges already being felt by Americans.
Youngkin’s letter encouraged Biden to invoke the Taft-Hartley Act, a 1947 law that could force striking workers to return to the ports for an 80-day cooling-off period. While this move could be seen as controversial, especially among blue-collar workers who are crucial to Harris’s campaign, Youngkin stressed the urgency.
President Biden has the tools to resolve this for both Virginia and the nation, including using the Taft-Hartley Act, Youngkin said.
He also highlighted the significant role the Port of Virginia plays in the national economy, managing $66 billion in imports and exporting $7 billion of Virginia-made goods in 2022. The port also supports over half a million jobs across the state.
The International Longshoremen’s Association ILA and the U.S. Maritime Alliance missed their negotiation deadline of midnight on September 30, marking the first strike since 1977. The ILA is demanding a 77% wage increase over six years, while the U.S. Maritime Alliance has offered a 50% increase. The union is also pushing to prevent full automation of their jobs.
Biden recently announced he would not use the Taft-Hartley Act, stating, As we recover from Hurricane Helene, dockworkers are essential in delivering the resources needed for affected communities. Now is not the time for ocean carriers to avoid negotiating fair wages for these workers, especially while they are seeing record profits.
In his letter, Youngkin emphasized the need for both parties to return to the negotiating table. You have a responsibility to Virginia and the entire nation to ensure this issue is resolved, he wrote.