Potential Strike Tomorrow

[WhiteTrash]

It's definitely AI...artificial ignorance.

Or maybe, Actual Ignorance?

[Scoop Snoop]

Right, MUScoop has thrived since we switched to 98% automated posters.

FIFY

[jficke13]

This will have tremendous impact on truckers and farmers, not just these Union members.

I mean isn't that the point? The reason that they have what they perceive as leverage?

[JWags85]

They are also against automation of gates, cranes, and on-site truck movement. This is, I think, of greater importance long term. Modern day Luddites,

Its pretty eye opening to look at the offloading/dock process in the US compared to other places in the world as a result.

Also, a huge part of this whole issue is "touch fees".  Basically, the process is far less efficient and shipments end up getting trucked farther by truck or rail because unions get huge fees anytime a crane is used (touched).  So a shipment that might be moved by crane 2/3/4 times at a port in China or the EU is only moved once by a crane.  That, combined with red tape in accordance with the Jones Act, leads to massive inefficiency protected fiercely by the Union.

Decent article about longshoreman salaries ..

https://archive.is/20240930212521/https://www.barrons.com/articles/port-pay-dock-workers-pay-demands-7e5b52dd

This also reminded me of an old coworker of mine at Pepsi.  Younger sales guy, from Seattle.  At a company offsite, it came up that his dad worked at the docks in Seattle, specifically as a crane operator.  One of the marketing managers, a classic Northwestern/UM/UofC MBA type, kind of panderingly asked "oh are you the first in your family to go to college?" cause he went to U of Washington on scholarship.

He was buzzed, so I think he got a bit cocky/defensive..."well no, I have an older sister who went to Gonzaga.  We both got scholarships cause we got really good grades at the private school we went to for middle/high school.  My dad didn't go to college but he has an $80K pick up truck and got my mom a Corvette for her 50th birthday..."

In a different situation it would have been douchey, but it was pretty funny that she clearly interpreted him as some modern day Loretta Lynn type from blue collar poverty and had no clue of the compensation for longshoremen and the like.

[muwarrior69]

They are also against automation of gates, cranes, and on-site truck movement. This is, I think, of greater importance long term. Modern day Luddites,

Not any different than the writers and actors strike opposing AI and CGI generated content.

[Scoop Snoop]

Not any different than the writers and actors strike opposing AI and CGI generated content.

The small manufacturing business I had was a commercial woodshop operation. When the production workers worried about my purchasing more machinery that increased efficiency, I brought in a hand saw, a paint brush, some chisels, and a hand-cranked drill and laid them on a table. I told them we could use tools like those if they would like, but that the company would be bankrupt in less than a month and then they would have no jobs. They got a laugh out of my little act. Then I told them that the best job security was to out produce our competitors and take their business away. The business was expanding rapidly, and my investment in machinery, along with employees who "got it" and ran the shop efficiently, resulted in success. Our cross-town competitors struggled with slow, labor-intensive practices. We ran circles around them.

[jesmu84]

The small manufacturing business I had was a commercial woodshop operation. When the production workers worried about my purchasing more machinery that increased efficiency, I brought in a hand saw, a paint brush, some chisels, and a hand-cranked drill and laid them on a table. I told them we could use tools like those if they would like, but that the company would be bankrupt in less than a month and then they would have no jobs. They got a laugh out of my little act. Then I told them that the best job security was to out produce our competitors and take their business away. The business was expanding rapidly, and my investment in machinery, along with employees who "got it" and ran the shop efficiently, resulted in success. Our cross-town competitors struggled with slow, labor-intensive practices. We ran circles around them.

Did your workers share equally in the production gains? Or merely keep their jobs?

[muwarrior69]

The small manufacturing business I had was a commercial woodshop operation. When the production workers worried about my purchasing more machinery that increased efficiency, I brought in a hand saw, a paint brush, some chisels, and a hand-cranked drill and laid them on a table. I told them we could use tools like those if they would like, but that the company would be bankrupt in less than a month and then they would have no jobs. They got a laugh out of my little act. Then I told them that the best job security was to out produce our competitors and take their business away. The business was expanding rapidly, and my investment in machinery, along with employees who "got it" and ran the shop efficiently, resulted in success. Our cross-town competitors struggled with slow, labor-intensive practices. We ran circles around them.

When 45k long shoreman shutdown all the ports, except on the west coast, there is little chance they'll be put out of business. 

[Scoop Snoop]

Did your workers share equally in the production gains? Or merely keep their jobs?

I cut their pay to minimum wage. And told them they were lucky that I didn't fire them.

[jesmu84]

I cut their pay to minimum wage. And told them they were lucky that I didn't fire them.

😂😂

[Scoop Snoop]

When 45k long shoreman shutdown all the ports, except on the west coast, there is little chance they'll be put out of business.

I do not see how this is at all relevant.  My point was efficiency improvements are essential to increased profitability and increased profitability is essential to having money wage and benefit increases. I was able to not only increase wages and benefits but also institute a bonus system based upon productivity. My employees were much longer term than those in other small manufacturing companies, so I guess I must have done something right. They had the right to size up new employees to determine if they would be good team members. In other words, they could recommend that a slacker could be quickly booted out. I warned new employees about this, but some apparently did not think I was serious. Some didn't last an entire day they were such screw offs.

[rocky_warrior]

except on the west coast

And the west coast guys are licking their chops at all the potential overtime, already being under a newish contract and all...

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

I was reading this morning that President Biden was remarking he was not happy to hear that the port strike was delaying deliveries of supplies to Helene stricken areas.

Leads me to think he is considering invoking Taft-Hartley sooner than later for hurricane relief if no progress is seen on strike resolution. 

[Skatastrophy]

I was reading this morning that President Biden was remarking he was not happy to hear that the port strike was delaying deliveries of supplies to Helene stricken areas.

Leads me to think he is considering invoking Taft-Hartley sooner than later for hurricane relief if no progress is seen on strike resolution. 

Biden said he doesn't believe in Taft-Hartley.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Biden said he doesn't believe in Taft-Hartley.

He has to say that.

[Dickthedribbler]

Biden said he doesn't believe in Taft-Hartley.

Someone would have to explain it to him first.

[Hards Alumni]

Someone would have to explain it to him first.

 

[Skatastrophy]

more context from the president

Q    Mr. President, will you intervene in the dockworkers strike if they go on strike on Tuesday?

THE PRESIDENT:  No.

Q    Why not?

THE PRESIDENT:  Because there’s collective bargaining, and I don’t believe in Taft-Hartley.

[Plaque Lives Matter!]

more context from the president

Only the Railway Labor Act I guess

[Lennys Tap]

The small manufacturing business I had was a commercial woodshop operation. When the production workers worried about my purchasing more machinery that increased efficiency, I brought in a hand saw, a paint brush, some chisels, and a hand-cranked drill and laid them on a table. I told them we could use tools like those if they would like, but that the company would be bankrupt in less than a month and then they would have no jobs. They got a laugh out of my little act. Then I told them that the best job security was to out produce our competitors and take their business away. The business was expanding rapidly, and my investment in machinery, along with employees who "got it" and ran the shop efficiently, resulted in success. Our cross-town competitors struggled with slow, labor-intensive practices. We ran circles around them.

Union or non union shop?

[Scoop Snoop]

Union or non union shop?

Non union. Once I got the right guys in place, everyone was happier. There is a whole lot to be said for listening to employee's thoughts, concerns, and ideas. The "right guys" group loved running their own show to a large degree and earning extra money via the bonus (based entirely of exceeding the very attainable production goals). On their own, they came up with little modifications to their workstations to make them more efficient. When I noticed that, I went to the bank and got some $100 bills and handed them to the clever workers.

[4everwarriors]

Buffoon can't spell Taft-Hartley let alone know what it is, aina?

[Uncle Rico]

Buffoon can't spell Taft-Hartley let alone know what it is, aina?

Yeah, I have little doubt Rocket could spell it or explain it

[Pakuni]

Buffoon can't spell Taft-Hartley let alone know what it is, aina?

If only he were smart enough to accomplish something truly impressive in life, like drilling teeth.
Instead, he and his feeble brain had to settle for being leader of the free world.

[Pakuni]

Strike suspended until Jan. 15

https://apnews.com/article/longshoremen-strike-ports-dockworkers-agreement-86fac07d1189e11ca4816b2cbf37affb