Port Houston Strike: Longshoremen demonstrate in historic standoff for better wages and protection from automation

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Longshoremen walked off work Tuesday morning at Port Houston, just one of several ports on the Gulf and East Coast where workers are picketing, leading to a historic strike.

ABC13 was in Seabrook on Tuesday, where union workers set up tents and cases of water early in anticipation of more people showing up at the Bayport Container Terminal.

The strike is due to a standstill in contract negotiations that has been ongoing for months.

READ MORE: Dockers in Eastern and Gulf ports strike, standoff risks new shortages

The International Longshoremen's Association, the largest longshore workers' union, is calling for higher wages and protection from automated technology.

They were not satisfied with the offer from the United States Maritime Alliance, which represents port operators and shipping companies.

It's unclear how this strike will last, but New York Gov. Kathy Hochul noted in a statement Tuesday that it is the first large-scale longshoremen's strike in the East in 47 years at ports from Maine to Texas and that included the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

If the strike lasts for weeks or months, businesses that rely on overseas shipping will see the greatest impact.

“All the conversations were about imports and Christmas, and retailers, the ports covered by the ILA, the East Coast and the Gulf Coast, actually handle almost 70% of container exports from the United States,” said Ed Emmett of Rice University's Baker Institute for public order.

ABC13 spoke with Ben Baxley, COO of Green Mile Logistics, who said he's not picking a side but is pushing for unity.

“There are 36 ports that are virtually at a standstill at the moment. “So if we rely on products from abroad in our daily lives, we will have a big impact, depending on how long that lasts,” Baxley explained. “However, within the United States, we have a great opportunity to come together. So our message to everyone is to come together and try to be part of the solution.”

Baxley told ABC13's Rosie Nguyen that they want to remain neutral but be fair.

“These guys work their butts off every day, our port truckers, God bless their souls, they need someone to come along and help them. However, this will be done in a way that both parties are amicable and stand up for what is right.” “We are coming together and finding a solution to pay them fair wages and ensure that all of our customers across the U.S be taken care of,” Baxley said.

HEB told ABC13 it does not currently expect any customers to be affected.

“We do not currently expect any impact on our customers. We are monitoring this issue and working closely with our suppliers,” the grocer said.

In a statement Tuesday, the union president wrote, “We are prepared to fight as long as necessary, to endure the strike for as long as possible, to preserve the wages and anti-automation protections our ILA members deserve.”

Meanwhile, the US Maritime Alliance (USMX) wrote in its own statement that it had increased its bid for the ILA, saying: “We are confident that this will allow us to fully resume collective bargaining on the other outstanding issues – in an effort.” “to reach an agreement.”

Emmett told ABC13 that each day this happens could cost the U.S. economy $5 billion per day.

To learn more about this story, follow Rosie Nguyen on Facebook. X and Instagram.