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Trump Picks His Side In US Port Dispute

The risk of a port strike on the US East and Gulf Coasts next month continues with Donald Trump now coming down heavily on the side of the union.

Commenting through social media last week, President-elect Trump said that the money that could be saved by port automation “is nowhere near the distress, hurt and harm it causes for American workers, in this case, our longshoremen”.

He Added “Foreign companies have made a fortune in the US by giving them access to our markets. They shouldn’t be looking for every last penny knowing how many families are hurt.”

“They’ve got record profits, and I’d rather these foreign companies spend it on the great men and women on our docks than machinery, which is expensive and which will constantly have to be replaced. In the end, there’s no gain for them…”

Trump’s comments are understood to have come after a meeting with the International Longshoremen’s Association’s (ILA) President Harold Daggett last week, and follow a breakdown in talks between the ILA and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) over port automation.

The previous strike in October, which saw 45,000 workers in 36 ports walk out, came to an end after three days when wages were agreed. However, the ILA only instructed workers to return to work until January 15th while outstanding issues, including automation, are resolved.

Trump is due to return to office on January 20th and it remains to be seen whether his backing of the union will have a positive or detrimental impact on the negotiations.

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