Of course every small minded person has had their emotions of high alert with the Longshoremen’s strike…..it has been getting a lot of press about the dire consequences if the strike is prolonged…..and now we have one of the first in panic buying….can you guess what it is?
If you ventured a guess and said toilet paper then you were spot on.
There is no squeeze on Charmin. Toilet paper makers said that consumers don’t need to fear shortages due to the ongoing strike at US ports. The American Forest and Paper Association, which represents makers of toilet paper, facial tissues, paper towels, and other wood products, said Wednesday that it was not aware of the strike having any impact on tissue product delivery in the US. The association said it spoke out after seeing reports on social media of consumers stocking up on toilet paper, the AP reports. It’s a common reaction in times of crisis; shoppers also hoarded toilet paper in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
but the trade group said approximately 85% of toilet paper, paper towels, napkins, and tissues used in the US is made by US-based producers and not affected by the strike. Members of the International Longshoremen’s Association went on strike Tuesday, impacting 36 ports on the East and Gulf coasts. American Forest and Paper Association CEO Heidi Brock said her group is urging the US Maritime Alliance, which represents ports and shipping companies, and the union representing around 45,000 dockworkers to come to an agreement soon so the association’s members can resume exports.
But everyone can breath a sight for now for there has been a tentative agreement that would pause the strike until January.
After receiving an enhanced contract proposal, the International Longshoremen’s Association suspended its three-day strike on Thursday that has shut major East and Gulf coast ports. The existing contract will remain in place through Jan. 15 to allow time for more negotiation over other issues, the Washington Post reports, after port owners proposed a 62% pay raise. If dockworkers stay on the job, the US economy would not be subject to the feared disruption, including possible shortages of consumer products and higher prices.
he union’s statement said that it reached “a tentative agreement on wages” that will allow the 45,000 workers to return to the job, per the New York Times. A 62% jump would be less than the union wanted—77%—but more than the US Maritime Alliance had proposed earlier in the week, which was 50% over six years. Under the tentative terms, longshoremen at the top of the scale would receive an increase of $24 an hour over the six years. A union vice president told the Post he thinks the outstanding issues can be settled. “I believe that all parties are energized,” Vincent Cameron said.
Lay off the toilet paper and calm down.
I Read, I Write, You Know
“lego ergo scribo”
What’s wrong with giving the dock workers a more than decent wage? The CEOs of the companies whose goods they unload are all multi-millionaires, and the shops that sell the goods once they are unloaded are all owned by multi-billion dollar corporations. It is in my nature to support the working person, who has a right to try to improve his/her lot in life.
Best wishes, Pete.
Other issue is that plight of inflation that has struck consumers for products and services already present. Unfortunately when well deserved wage increases are achieved, prices increase and neutralize the wage increase and hits everyone else too.
They could introduce retail price caps on essential goods, which has been done in the past in some countries They could also cap the excessive profits of retailers by changes to tax laws. There are ways around the dilemma, you highlight, Carl.
Best wishes, Pete.
Good ideas. Seems when one element of work force benefits other elements suffer – an endless cycle. The multi billionaire owners don’t suffer from increasing wages. That cost passed on to the already strangled consumer.
That has been going on even before the wage thing….it is how these companies make billions. chuq
I have no problem with their demands. chuq
Glad to hear progress made, strike delayed. With destruction from Helena and entire nation suffering from inflation (fixed income most serious) to strike now would be like the Navy going on strike on Dec. 8, 1945. Unions have contracts but they have an unwritten contract to promote the well being of the entire nation. So does the the administration. Now.
oooops – my error 1941 not 1945
The automation thing may be a sticking point. chuq
Automation may be the largest contributor to job loss in the last 60 years than any other cause to which we blame.
I agree and that is why I say the unions should find a way to work with it not against because it will not go away. chuq
That is good to know. One Walmart near me was sold out if toilet paper two days ago. I was beginning go get worried. News last night estimated more than 100 ships are off our east coast waiting to dock.
It should take a month to get back to normal…..chuq
The toilet paper thing… Sigh… My youngest son works for Kimberly Clark. All of the TP they sell here in the US is made right here and all of it goes out by train or truck. Same with their paper towels, napkins, diapers, etc. Same is true for all the other major brands.
As for the dock workers, the sticking point wasn’t really wages. The companies were offering them a better than 50% pay hike over the next few years. The sticking point was automation. US docks are some of the worst in the world, lagging decades behind other major international ports in terms of efficiency and throughput and cost. The reason is because they are decades behind in terms of technology. And the union wants to keep it that way. They want an absolute guarantee that the companies will not adopt new technology that will streamline container handling, improve unloading/loading times and cut costs.
Technology is impossible to stop now….unions need to look at ways to use it. chuq
I will admit I took a news break so I was unaware of this. I was more concerned with what seemed to be added officers at Chicago Union Station this week.
What is going on that more cops are needed? chuq