Biden Caves to Unions Again, Sabotaging Consumers

Townhall.com ^ | October 20, 2021 | Betsy

[Kaslin]

From Christmas toys to clothing and auto parts, shortages of imported products are forcing factories to idle, store shelves to sit empty and consumers to panic. What else is in short supply? The truth about what's causing this economic crisis.

resident Joe Biden, who brags about running "the most pro-union administration in history," won't admit that longshoremen's unions are holding the nation hostage, refusing to allow the use of automated equipment to unload container ships and get the goods onto trucks faster.

The U.S. is the world's largest importer, but its major ports at Los Angeles and Long Beach, California, rank a dismal 328 and 333, respectively, in the World Bank's Container Port Performance Index. That means nightmare inefficiency worse than most developing countries. Not one U.S. port made it into the top 50 for speed and efficiency. In contrast, Japan's Yokohama port ranks No. 1.

Nearly 100 container ships have been waiting off the Los Angeles coastline to be unloaded. The longer they wait, the more prices for imported goods rise, clobbering consumers.

On Wednesday, Biden announced a "gamechanger," saying the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach would stay open more hours for a "90-day sprint" to Christmas. Truth is, most ports around the world operate 24/7. Port operators here haven't done that in the past because union contracts require paying higher hourly rates for night and weekend labor. Dockworker salaries already average $171,000 a year. Wednesday's announcement was a concession from port operators, not the unions.

But increased hours won't fix the bottlenecks. The added hours will boost cargo movement by less than 10%, or an estimated 3,500 containers a week. The real problem is the unions' tooth-and-nail opposition to labor-saving equipment. Cranes in automated ports operate at least twice as fast as cranes in outdated U.S. ports. Biden's port envoy John Porcari let the truth out when he said last week, it's "your grandfather's infrastructure that we're working with."

Unions won't have it any other way. The International Longshoremen's Association contract, which extends to 2024, blocks the use of automation technology. Willie Adams, president of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, which represents West Coast workers, says automated cargo handling equipment will not be tolerated.

Here's the biggest lie, straight from Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. He went on parental leave in August, ignoring the worsening supply crisis. But he emerged from diaper duty long enough on Sunday to shovel some grown-up manure. Buttigieg said dysfunctional ports are "one more example of why we need to pass the infrastructure bill."

In truth, the $17 billion for ports in the infrastructure bill is mostly for emissions reductions, repairs and dredging. Nothing is allocated for labor-saving automation. In fact, section 30102 of Biden's Build Back Better Bill expressly prohibits the use of funds provided there to be used for automation.

No surprise. Build Back Better is crammed with pro-union favors, including an extra $4,500 sweetener available only to consumers who buy a union-made electric vehicle and a whopping $14,000 tax credit to homeowners who install energy-saving devices and electrical equipment, provided the contractor doing the job is unionized. Otherwise, zip. Organized labor is spending millions in advertising to get the bill passed.

Biden is bought, paid for and controlled by the unions. Some 98.8% of union money spent on the 2020 presidential contest went to Biden. Now it's payback time.

The media is hiding that. Last week, a Washington Post news story claimed "voters blame presidents for all sorts of pocketbook problems that presidents can't fix."

Biden could take action, but he won't. Despite pushing for trillions in new spending, Biden is choosing not to automate American ports. He's kowtowing to his union backers. That means keeping America's ports dysfunctional. It's a drag on the overall economy.

There are many causes of the current supply shortages, from too few truckers to shutdowns in Asia due to COVID. But one problem is fixable: our obsolete ports. If only Biden had the will to act.

[wastedyears]

The people that legitimately voted for him need to be beaten.

[jacknhoo]

We weren’t having such serious and impactful problems at the ports prior to this administration, regardless of the lack of automation.

There’s something much more cynical going on here.

[Travis McGee]

Biden said Hunter is the smartest person he ever knew.

He talks to him daily for advice.

[Bookshelf]

I once worked the LA ports and history had it that for Matson Lines to introduce intermodal transportation it had to pay a dollar to Marxist Harry Bridges Longshoreman’s union for each container lifted on and off by crane. The featherbedding union made a bad deal and vowed never to be had again. Thus, the outdated cranes and generally inefficient ports.

[GailA]

I have 2 grands to buy for, already have it bought. Eldest gets a gift card, the 4 yr old gets a scooter and a dress. Been through this before, I use resale stores, as Rummage sales are still scarce.

BEST BUY DOUBLE FOOD YOU CAN FREEZE/STORE AT THANKSGIVING AS CHRISTMAS IT WILL BE MUCH HIGHER. SCALE BACK AND HAVE GUEST BRING FOOD ITEMS TOO.

[MtnClimber]

[Wally_Kalbacken]

I was in a courtroom in Savannah about 21 years ago. As a newly admitted GA Bar member I had to observe trials to get my feet wet and to support a trial observation affidavit that was to be submitted to the GA Supreme Ct. before I could actively practice law. So I was in the Chatham County Courthouse, listening to a variety of matters to observe courtroom protocols, etc.

I happened to observe a divorce matter involving a crane operator at the Port of Savannah (4th busiest US port.) As part of the divorce matter they had to review information about the husband's income - forming the basis for support to be granted to his soon to be ex-spouse. The compensation blew me away - roughly $130K in base compensation and bonuses based on the annual throughput of the port that could add $60-65K to that. And again - this was 2000. The longshoreman's unions know they are sitting on chokepoints and they have leveraged that effectively. Amazing compensation levels for the inputs required in that kind of job. As far as Long Beach is concerned - the overtime must be incredible $$ there as well. So, have sympathy for their long hours, but worry not about their bank accounts.

[Brian Griffin]

The port people are doing more than their fair share to force major corporations to “Build Back Better” in the USA.

Take it easy, real easy.

Keep up the sloth!

[WhoisAlanGreenspan?]

"We weren’t having such serious and impactful problems at the ports prior to this administration, regardless of the lack of automation. There’s something much more cynical going on here."

Exactly!

[kelly4c]

Bkmk

[Blood of Tyrants]

Not to mention the law that bars independent truckers from transporting goods through California and the requirement that all trucks be 2011 or newer. And the insane law that required all new trucks to be electric by 2036 despite the fact that the technology to build one doesn’t exist.

[cymbeline]

“the $17 billion for ports in the infrastructure bill is mostly for emissions reductions, repairs and dredging. Nothing is allocated for labor-saving automation”

If the unloading equipment is privately owned, why should the government give money to the owners?

Government = Givernment

[Gay State Conservative]

I worked in healthcare back then...specifically,at a very famous hospital. There were junior physicians and surgeons there who weren't making that kind of money. Graduates of the worlds finest medical schools...Harvard,Columbia,Hopkins,Mayo Clinic,Stanford...

[Migraine]

The people that legitimately voted for him need to be beaten.

Truth be told, I think there were only two: the Cadaver and his wife. All the rest were voting AGAINST the best president we've ever seen.

[patriot torch]

The left is using the ports as a choke point, holding our economy hostage as a means to further their own greed. In much the same way the left is using the social media and media platforms as a choke point to censor the truth.

Meanwhile the puppet masters are using the unions, the media and social media platforms as a means to bring this nation down by weakening our nation’s sovereign strength to bring about their one world order.

[CaptainPhilFan]

Are these ships full of crap from China?

Let them rust, rot, and sink.

“Made In The USA” doesn’t get stuck in port.

This year for Christmas plan early
BOYCOTT CHINA 100%
We can make our own “Reset”

“Use it up... Wear it out... Make it do... Or do without”

NOTHING FROM CHINA FOR CHRISTMAS!
AMERICAN PATRIOTS ARE MAD!
NOTHING FROM CHINA FOR CHRISTMAS!
‘CAUSE CHINA AND BIDEN ARE BAD!

Are you brave enough to make a real stand?
Did you get the Crap From China “Catalogue” from Amazon?
All plastic, no quality, no prices. Sears they ain’t.
*************************************************

LET’S GO BRANDON!

This year make a real effort to not give China one damned copper penny.

Second hand, swap with friends, make it yourself, have an event instead. Go low key, make family, friends, and memories more important.

Cook, bake, be a Secret Santa to a neighbor. Put on a play! Involve everyone. Give music lessons as gifts, buy American.

Make it about fun, not cheap Chinese plastic. Make every ornament for your tree by hand. Shun ANYTHING from China. Stick it up their ass.

Let their ships full of shit rot and sink.

*WE* can ALSO RESET! Do it.

[vpintheak]

Not unions. The Longshoremen are a criminal gang disguised as a union. Many unions are just fine.

[Mama Shawna]

I liked that so much I copied it and posted it on my Facebook and Gab pages. FJB!

[sauropod]

Bkmk