(DailyVantage.com) – Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced on Thursday that he is deploying the Florida National Guard to end a union strike at ports along the Gulf Coast. The strike, organized by the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), had begun just two days earlier and threatened to exacerbate supply chain issues, particularly as the state grapples with recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Helene.
“It is unacceptable for the Biden-Harris administration to allow supply chain interruptions to hurt people who are reeling from a category 4 hurricane,” DeSantis told reporters in Manatee County. He explained that the Florida National Guard, along with the Florida State Guard, would be sent to critical ports to “maintain order” and, where possible, help resume port operations disrupted by the strike.
The ILA, which represents over 40,000 workers at ports along the East and Gulf Coasts, initiated the strike to pressure the United States Maritime Alliance into meeting their demands. Among their demands are a significant wage increase and a ban on port automation, which critics say would reduce demand for dockworkers but improve efficiency.
DeSantis, in his address, focused on the immediate economic and logistical challenges caused by the strike, particularly its potential to slow disaster relief efforts in Florida, where Hurricane Helene has already caused massive damage. He noted that 15 fatalities had been confirmed but warned that the actual death toll is likely to rise.
Critics of the strike accuse the union of stalling economic progress by resisting automation and using the strike as leverage. On the other hand, President Joe Biden placed the blame on the shipping industry, accusing it of profiting while refusing to negotiate fair wages for workers. “Dockworkers will play an essential role in getting communities the resources they need,” Biden said, urging maritime companies to agree to better compensation for these essential workers.
Former President Donald Trump also weighed in, expressing his support for the dockworkers. “American workers should be able to negotiate for better wages, especially since the shipping companies are mostly foreign-flag vessels,” Trump said.
As the situation unfolds, DeSantis has implemented various emergency measures to accelerate disaster relief efforts and stabilize the state’s ports. The deployment of the National Guard signals his administration’s focus on mitigating further supply chain disruptions in the face of the ongoing strike.
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