Current:Home > reviewsHow much do dockworkers make? What to know about wages amid ILA port strike -Elevate Capital Network
How much do dockworkers make? What to know about wages amid ILA port strike
Fastexy Exchange View
Date:2025-04-09 02:44:24
Almost 25,000 dockworkers at various ports along the East and Gulf Coasts are striking to ask for higher pay and protections from having their jobs automated out of existence.
Marking the first such strike in almost 50 years, members of the International Longshoremen’s Association walked off the job on Tuesday. In a social media post, the union's president Harold Daggett said the union was fighting for “the kind of wages we deserve.”
In a statement on Monday, the union blamed the United States Maritime Alliance, which represents docks and ocean carriers, for continuing to block an agreement that would end the strike.
“The Ocean Carriers represented by USMX want to enjoy rich billion-dollar profits that they are making in 2024, while they offer ILA Longshore Workers an unacceptable wage package that we reject," the statement said.
While 14 ports in the East and Gulf Coast are seeing striking workers, West Coast ports have not been affected as a different union represents its workers. Back in 2023, the West Coast union negotiated wage increases for its workers.
What do dockworkers make? What wages are they proposing?
The wages negotiated by the West Coast dockworkers union is one of the reasons for the current strike. ILA workers make significantly less than their counterparts.
The ILA contract that expired on Monday shows that the starting pay for dockworkers was $20 per hour. Pay rises to $24.75 after two years, $31.90 after three and tops out at $39 for workers with at least six years on the job.
Meanwhile, the ILA is demanding a 77% increase over the duration of the contract, with a $5 increase each year of the contract. Workers would make $44 the first year, $49 the second and up to $69 in the final year.
In recent days, the U.S. Maritime Alliance proposed a smaller increase, nearly 50%, which the ILA rejected.
"They might claim a significant increase, but they conveniently omit that many of our members are operating multi-million-dollar container-handling equipment for a mere $20 an hour. In some states, the minimum wage is already $15," the ILA said.
The current top wage amounts to about $81,000 per year, but according to a Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor report about a third of local longshoremen made $200,000 or more a year.
However, that pay may come with extreme hours. The ILA president, Harold Daggett, told the Associated Press that many of the workers earning high wages work up to 100 hours a week.
“Our members don’t work typical 9-to-5 jobs; they work extraordinary hours, sacrificing time with their families. Our position is firm: we believe in the value our incredible rank-and-file members bring to this industry and to our great nation,” the ILA said in a statement.
The average U.S. salary was about $59,000 in the fourth quarter of 2023, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor.
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.
veryGood! (77594)
Related
- Global Warming Set the Stage for Los Angeles Fires
- Some Virginia inmates could be released earlier under change to enhanced sentence credit policy
- Ukraine aims a major drone attack at Crimea as Russia tries to capture a destroyed eastern city
- No. 7 Texas secures Big 12 title game appearance by crushing Texas Tech
- Paige Bueckers vs. Hannah Hidalgo highlights women's basketball games to watch
- Cleanup, air monitoring underway at Kentucky train derailment site
- Sean 'Diddy' Combs accused of 1991 sexual assault of college student in second lawsuit
- A newly formed alliance between coup-hit countries in Africa’s Sahel is seen as tool for legitimacy
- SFO's new sensory room helps neurodivergent travelers fight flying jitters
- Palestinian families rejoice over release of minors and women in wartime prisoner swap
Ranking
- US wholesale inflation accelerated in November in sign that some price pressures remain elevated
- China will allow visa-free entry for France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia
- Argentina and Brazil charged by FIFA after fan violence delays World Cup qualifying game at Maracana
- Oregon defeats Oregon State for spot in the Pac-12 title game as rivalry ends for now
- Are Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp down? Meta says most issues resolved after outages
- NBA investigating Thunder guard Josh Giddey for allegations involving a minor
- Ohio voters just passed abortion protections. Whether they take effect is now up to the courts
- Too many schools are underperforming, top New Mexico education official says
Recommendation
McConnell absent from Senate on Thursday as he recovers from fall in Capitol
Terry Richardson hit with second sexual assault lawsuit as NY Adult Survivors Act expires
NYC Mayor Eric Adams accused of sexual assault 30 years ago in court filing
Jimmy Carter's last moments with Rosalynn Carter, his partner of almost eight decades
San Francisco names street for Associated Press photographer who captured the iconic Iwo Jima photo
How making jewelry got me out of my creative rut
Vietnam’s plan for spending $15.5 billion for its clean energy transition to be announced at COP28
Father arrested in Thanksgiving shooting death of 10-year-old son in Nebraska