Thanks for opening up the issue from boths sides. The general news folks are clueless in their reporting, so I appreciate the news from another mariner.
The problem is these company’s are making record profits more then they ever have but still want to squeeze the drops out that trickle down to us. They want less longshoremen on the docks but also record speed getting the ships in and out. These greedy companies keep pushing and pushing just to make Pennie’s more than they did last year. If it wasn’t for unions fighting back they’d have us working none stop for a pittance with no safety no benefits and zero retirement. They’d work us dead and move on. #ILA #PortofBoston
The problem is these company’s are making record profits more then they ever have but still want to squeeze the drops out that trickle down to us. They want less longshoremen on the docks but also record speed getting the ships in and out. These greedy companies keep pushing and pushing just to make Pennie’s more than they did last year. If it wasn’t for unions fighting back they’d have us working none stop for a pittance with no safety no benefits and zero retirement. They’d work us dead and move on. #ILA #PortofBoston
Thanks for giving labor a fair shake. I remember in 2021 and 2022 everyone going on about the ship que. “Are you guys on strike? Why can’t you just unload the ships faster?” And put the cans WHERE? All they had to do was turn off the talking heads and drive a couple miles and see for themselves. Alameda corridor road lanes completely full of trucks hauling cans. 710 completely full. Rail lines along Alameda full of cans. Can’t empty a port any faster than the rest of the infrastructure can absorb it. POLA/POLB is already open 24/7, but if Walmart doesn’t want the load at 0430, the terminal operator isn’t going to dispatch manning for the 3rd shift.
I’m A Longshoreman Out Of Local 1422 Tampa. Very Informative video and yes this is going to get deep with this being a election year. We Are Ready To Fight World Wide Union Strong Solidarity 👍💪
I sat on our Unions' executive board for 6 years and figured the unions won't be happy until there is only one member left making 100 billion dollars per hour and paying 100% of it in union dues. Having said that the companies won't be happy until there is only one worldwide fully automated company that makes everything and operates tax free.
Port of Charleston landed highest for US ports at 53. Why is the Port of Houston not on the list? It is such a valuable port to the Gulf Coast region and handles a lot of tonnage, so curious why it got left off of the list? Great job as always Sal! You have me interested in a topic that I might not be so interested in without your channel.
ILA local 1 Port of N.Y./N.J and we’re getting closer to that expiration date. I stand behind my union 100% 2020 the ILA did not stop we moved cargo everyday.
Here in Boston we’ve been hearing it might happen. The clerks will get the brunt of it with automation. I feel for them but on the other hand they’re the biggest money makers on the port with the highest amount of hours. The job looks incredibly easy but important. I’m in solidarity with all my union brothers and if we have to strike we definitely will. I just hope the ILA takes care of its members when and if we do. Not all of us make 250-350k a year like the clerks do. Some of us live paycheck to paycheck ship to ship. All the money we pay in dues so the executives can have their huge salary’s and golden umbrellas when they lose an election or retire. I hope they trickle some down to supplement us if we all strike. Buy for contracts we should get what the west coast got. The raises etc. we don’t need automation here in Boston it won’t save time or money. It’ll cost more to set up and maintain then paying out men for 20 years. #ILA #PortofBoston
Up in the Great Lakes, the Michipicoten's hull developed a 14 ft crack a few days back. A 72 yr old ore carrier. She got the flooding under control and was allowed alongside in Thunder Bay. Investigation found no collision so it is likely just age of the steel. Here's a nice video of a buoy tender departing Duluth, followed by a 1000' tug/barge. Impressive narrow channel passage under a lift bridge. video: Ships Departing Duluth in Response to Michipicoten’s Distress Call (6/8/24)
I'm sorry, but I have to charge you with trespassing. Yes, it means you can't get a job, can't rent an apartment or be trusted in any manner. Welcome to Washington State, where we solve all problems with trespassing charges. That may sound like a joke, but it's not. I grew up here and I had to move back here. Trespassing threats are still the nasty stick used to stop anyone from improving anything. I got charged with a warning because I wasn't big on that face thingie. 6 months i couldn't ride public transportation without getting put in jail on criminal trespassing charges. This ridiculous abuse is used everywhere against anyone wanting to improve something or having a hard time with how something is. It's a brutal abuse that nobody here wants to talk about.
I wouldn’t put much stock in those numbers. It could be so many factors like when do they start counting the time… like if they start counting when the port pilot takes over? What if a higher percentage of your cargo is RoRo or smaller Jones act ships? Etc Etc.
@@CrispyCircuits welcome to Washington where your drivers license number is your prison number. Complementary gang tats for members of the I hate Bob Furgison and Jay Inslee clubs.
Dear Sal - thank-you for a your fair, factual, and historically accurate reporting. The internet needs more content like this, imo. I'm writing to pose a question and to ask if you might be interested in exploring a part of maritime history close to my heart.... the question: Does the Maritime Academy still accept cats? My humble suggestion for a historic piece of common interest: Ship's cats. I know cats have served in most, if not all, of the world's national naval forces and maritime industry, but this subject doesn't get near the coverage of such drivel as trained dogs and even rodents that are so popular in popular media, but very little is now known in the meme-scape regards the venerable feline heroes. I understand that you probably a lot to fill your airtime, but I think the historical piece would make a nice standalone that you could use at schools, too. TY for your time, and ty for the podcast.
Wow, you’re absolutely incorrect about automated systems. We are currently in the process of testing an automated system and its efficiency to increase turnaround times for drivers. So far, it hasn’t increased turn around times at all. In fact, it has made the process a tad bit slower. When you understand the logistics for efficiencies in turnaround times you see that it is determined by where the bulk of the work is on the terminal and how the equipment operates. If a terminal works efficiently it is because the terminal operating company has done their due diligence to make sure all logistical aspects of the process have been thoroughly worked out. It has nothing to do with the capability of the longshoremen to operate the equipment. I can honestly say that from first hand experience. All automated systems do is give you a standard for measuring moving forward. They are nothing more than companies to minimize their labor costs.
This RIGHT HERE!!! Not to mention, since this technology push, ships are spending way more time docked! Computer does not do it as fast as the ILA! They just want to cut costs! Full stop!
My question is - Where does ILA really fall into the efficiency issue? Because the problem I see is more with the truck drivers than the gate system. Are those drivers ILA members? What is ILA doing to improve the pay, training, and recruiting of truck drivers? The answer to all of them is - No and/or NOTHING. The ILA needs to stop bitching about automation "taking jobs" and instead focus on where the problem is - the trucking. These containers need to get in/out of the port, whether via rail or via truck. Rail isn't much of an issue, but trucking is.
its the set up and workers. half the time getting in a port and checking in is a head ache, somehow they cant seem to get that right at any port i ever went to. then you will sit next to the can and the loader will look at you like you got 5 heads while txtn for 20 mins then pulls off and comes back at some point...vs just get the can on the chassis and keep it moving
Ila 🇺🇲 work puts everything you see in stores from medicine to cars you drive these hard working men and women work around the clock from hot scorting summers to the blistering winters all while these companies rake in billions almost trillions of dollars I stand with the brave men and women who work in the ila and we back the ila leaders !!!! ILA 🇺🇲
So, USMX members break the contract and then they're surprised that the ILA reacts... hmmm. Not a good move. All parties need to set down and get something worked out and stop with the foolishness.
I keep an eye on what truck driving jobs are open for guys here in PA and always see intermodal positions open. No one wants to sit waiting at the port for hours every day in NJ or MD waiting and not making any money.
Sal, nice well balanced update thanks. Have you been reading about the recent trouble in Alaska with the breakdown of one of TOTE Maritime's ships? Lots of empty shelves in the grocery stores here. They are starting to get caught up a bit now, but it has been quite noticeable.
"Ports America, which sounds very American, but is in fact Canadian"... which is in America, North America even. It's just not in the USA. I'm also guilty of equating America with the USA and trying to undo that bias.
@@wgowshipping true. The balance I try to find is being accepting of anyone from North or South America that claims to be from America, including US citizens.
Now wait, what’s the difference in pay between long shore men and execs? And how are profits for shipper companies? In the end, the rest of us wait for merchandise due to ‘just in time’ stocking policies…
What is the diff? Class. Class is the difference. Hard to get containers out of the port when you have a union boy dragging a tire iron around and hanging out in chopped up container for half his shift. You get in trouble if you are smart enough to remove and replace three bolts to change a mud flap on a chassis. Got to wait for the union hack to accomplish this. Takes me 3 minutes. Takes a union commie a half hour. They are already lazy and entitled. Give more money and they get even slower. I'm speaking from years of experience with more than one port. Unions WERE important. Now they are a hinderance.
As a trucker I have to say we take issue with automation… however comparing auto in/outgates at UP Oakland compared to human interactions at the port of Oakland I have to say… Please god automate the ingates and outgates
Interesting enough, the elements that I see here that slow down the efficiency of operations is not the fault at all of the worker. We are in place, on time, often waiting for our first moves, or the management process to take place. Properly place the blame!!!
Thanks for the heads up Sal. I'll be keeping this in mind for the future. Maybe international might become more lucrative to look for should I/we need. And oh about November... there is a 3rd candidate! A younger fresh face (although he does appear VERY hardened) who is somewhat new to politics and has not run for president before. And that's true!!
I think this involves a broader question about what to do with people whose jobs that were once steady careers are now being automated. No idea what an efficient and fair solution is.
What they did at the Long Beach container terminal is they retained the crane operators, but have them just watching a TV screen in case the automated crane malfunctions.
CORRECTION: The West Coast Longshoremen (ILWU) do not and cannot strike. Every time modern Longshore workers get accuse of striking, its actually been a LOCK OUT. As I understand it, it’s illegal for Longshore workers to strike. We may picket in support of others, or when locked out. I’m guessing that East and Gulf Coast Longshore workers aren’t allowed to strike either. Thank you.
Savannah Local 1475 has filed with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. This filing allows Local 1475 the right to strike beginning Oct 1, 2024. This was mandated by the International. Many other locals have done this as well. The president of IWLU has also sent a letter to president of ILA pledging solidarity with the ILA in these negotiations.
I picked up a few loads at Savannah, I drive a 53' dry van so the freight was already unloaded off containers and was palletized, and I can say they def were not fast or efficient, but Ive seen a lot worse also ( IM LOOKING AT YOU LONG BEACH) so Im not 100% on that ranking list?
How much of this from ship simply getting to large to even inter U.S. ports? And how much simply because Business consider maintaining anything a loss?
⚓️ ILA!!! No way…. Rising tide floats all boats. ILWU is the model. 🌈 Regarding regional port areas… in California there is a lot of underutilized land that is available for development.
as an ila worker in the south we have been raped for years, some ports are still at $19.50 an hour, hell we don't even get hazard pay, and don't get me started on the nepotism!!!!!
I just cleared a major hurdle if I was going to stay where I'm at. All good. I have a huge shopping list. Need to hurry before everyone boycotts sales to the US.
So they automated some port functions and that made the union want to take their toys and go home. As far as I know, Savanah, Houston, Charleston and Jacksonville are non-union ports. Wonder if they will see an increase from this?
Proud union member of ILA Local #1408 Jax, FL. The non union has a stake in Puerto Rican Trade, small barges and other 💩 they sneak in. We handle all the real business outchea😁
I worked for companies that automated factories from the 1970's-2000's by building special machines. A big driver of automation was unions. The inefficiencies I saw were remarkable. Especially contract language that allowed employees to sit idle, or only do limited work. Eventually, I could tell if a company would fail by just watching the employees while installing machinery. Within a year or so the company would close, move to another part of the country, or move overseas. There was a time when unions served a vital function, but anymore they work for more money, and maximum completion time for workers to complete a task. The success of the company strangely is not part of the equation. Employees should receive a fair wage and benefits. Profits rise and fall. They can ask for a share of the profits when they share in covering company losses. I once worked for a man who took no wages from the company. He lived off his savings and his wife's job. I never missed getting a check, and the company insurance paid for the birth costs of my first 2 children. He eventually had to sell the company at a loss.
talking about containers. the ones on the Dali are now 6 weeks late arriving in singapore. Is no one chasing their products? Have the containers been impounded by the us government or cant the shipping company afford the cost of replacement shipping? Caroline
Speaking of the different issues involved in the entire port operation, I keep hearing varying and contradictory accounts on how much a certain organisation that begins with "M" and ends with "afia" still wants what it thinks is "its share" of incoming commodities, especially in NY, which adds in part to the total time delay between ship and gate. Is this really still a problem in the day and age of containers?
Define mafia. Define commodities. Even without containers I don’t know how much leakage will occur when a pallet of kiwis is $2,000 and they’re accounted for before they got loaded on the other side.
we can't casually mention the obvious any more about the 2 spring chickens running for president. apparently the US has no other candidates. it would be funny if it wasn't so sad.
Interesting that Philly is the top of the us ports for moving cans off the ship; but i guess that's why we call it ship day and they definitely get priority over getting cans on our trucks. That's the thing why not have enough staff to run the ships and load the trucks, not either or, and i never understood all the wasted time sitting next to the can but the top loader txtn or sleep for 20 mins then pulls off. Or if your can was somehow dug in good luck or try again tomorrow. I will say they seem to be trying in the last 3 or 4 months to be somewhat more efficient-ish but then again i don't know if the port is even set up right and changes being made seem to be from behind a desk not on the ground. its a war zone just trying to make a line to get into the port lol. is it the unions or the employees themselves and the untouchable workers culture.
ILA better have 90%+ labor position fill rate if they are complaining like that. It's 2024, working population is shrinking and every industry is hurting for workers, but the Ila is so flush they need to fight for positions _signing in trucks?_ I want to know the staff level history of what went automated, because if they aren't able to keep the post full its going to back up the whole dock... Requiring something with more uptime...
Charleston stands out because it's an operation of the state government of South Carolina. The workers are state employees who are prohibited from belonging to labor unions. Is this strike happens, Charleston will become very busy.
@@ArtStoneUS ILA workers still work at the Port of Charleston. My main client is required to use ILA workers to refurbish chassis as contractually ILA workers must perform all repairs to shipping containers. By extension, they also must perform repairs on the chassis.
Sal, you got something wrong there starting from 11:19 Table 2.1 shows the IMPROVEMENT by an average of 19h in NAM ports from 2022 to 2023. That is why that figure is in green (good) and in parenthesis (indicating a negative number, i.e. less hours). That is clear also from the explanation of the table in page 18 of the report
This is the statement from the report under that table: "At a global level, on average each port arrival decreased by 1.8 hours, as illustrated in Table 2.2. The largest increase in average arrival time was witnessed in North America (USA and Canada) with an average increase in time of 19.1 hours over all vessel sizes. By contrast, performance improved in Africa (Sub-Sahara) with an average 2.0-hour improvement in arrival time across all vessel sizes. Improvements in East Asia and Southeast Asia were also recorded."
@@wgowshipping you're right about this paragraph, but doesn't it conflict with the one in page 18? "Aggregate change in quantity of hours" and then they use a parenthesis which usually indicates a negative number. And the green color, why use that for the very negative, yellow for the slightly negative and red for the positive figures? Also, in the paragraph you mention, it references table 2.2 and we are talking about table 2.1. It's very confusing to me... My interpretation is that it went down by 19.1 hours from 22 to 23 (which kind of makes sense since 2022 was the height of the crazy bottleneck and vessel queue that happened in the US, remembering that post by Flexport CEO Ryan Peterson). What do you think?
I think that paragraph you mention in page 19 is wrong! Whoever wrote that misinterpreted the table. Another piece of evidence is that they say that "decreased by 1.8 hours" and that 1.8 average figure is also in parenthesis, like the 19.1 figure for NAM
If you want to make negotiations between unions and capital more productive, give workers access to a significant share of profits. That will align interests. Oh, capital will never do that? Well, now we know where the problem is.
Labor could have bought up stock with their dues any time they wanted. But they don't want the risk, just the rewards, of ownership. Now, to be fair, you're right that capital is slow to give up profits unless they absolutely have to. They do sometimes pay executives in stock, though, so one might be able to convince them to pay workers in stock as well. *shrug* Edit: my point is that problems lie on both sides, not just one. Please dont misunderstand me as trying to say that the problem lies only with labor (unions). I've also suggested a compromise, but not sure how reasonable either side would find said suggestion.
From the port/terminal/depot side, the people running them from the local authorities don't have the power or the money to actually make them efficient. The relationship between the parties involved in every direction is adversarial and that's not helping anyone or anything get better.
Hi Sal - I saw a story on China having a rail transport ship that the USA bought, CHEYENNE, which is a large vessel to transport " trains" (locomotives). Can you do a story on this? Thanks
We care because they always say they want to cut this they need to cut that. When in reality they’re making more profit than ever before. They hate paying more money to contend with higher costs for us and to keep up with inflation and cost of living. For instance The shipping companies are trying to go after our double time. They’ve succeeded with some of our locals and now going after the rest. We’re talking about a tiny minuscule expense for them but to us is huge. If they could they’d cut the workforce down 50% but make the rest of us work 100% more for even less money.
I wound up liking this episode. A save. Municipalities and port corporations have a lot to do with port efficiencies and inefficiencies, but there is one collosal villain. Trucker harassment. Your Rocky Rockford is getting older because he's hanging on tight. New truckers are not appearing on the rolls. Call it intelligence. There is too much exploitation in training new truckers. Buying equipment is nightmare lending and predatory loans. Trucks suffer from phoney environmental garbage like exhaust gas recirculation and exhaust system plumbing and additives(DEF). Then there's declining profits and owner operators are getting the boot. When your container comes off the boat, and there's no driver, how is it going to grow legs and walk to Walmart? I'm on the gearjammers' side, and I tell them forget the license and forget the rig until it gets easier. It's somebody else's problem.
Habemus Papam!! Aside from the smoke, it reminds me of labor relations in the airline industry back in the 80's and 90's. Is there anything in the mechanism of the applicable labor law here that is the equivalent of the Presidential Emergency Board in the Railway Labor Act?
