Ongoing Canadian port strike!!

[Harry Le Hermit]

I must have fallen asleep or been distracted, as I overlooked this...

Disruptions at Canadian ports see rail operations hit the buffers - The Loadstar

 

[WhatInThe]

Ok right to strike I get it. But start affecting the local then national supply chain that won't go over too well with a lot of the public.

Somebody needs to step in just keep them working until a contract worked out.

What would be the biggest issue?

 

[dilettante]

What would be the biggest issue?

Seems obvious to me.

Strikes are supposed to be a last ditch effort when the employer refuses to negotiate. Take that away and there is no collective bargaining. The threat of the hardships of deprivation (loss of profits and disgruntled customers) are the leverage a strike is intended to provide.

So if the workers are "kept working" what incentive exists for the employer to negotiate? They've already refused to in the first place.

 

[Imogene]

I must have fallen asleep or been distracted, as I overlooked this...

Disruptions at Canadian ports see rail operations hit the buffers - The Loadstar

Geez I can’t believe I also missed this! I’m in southern Middle Tennessee but this sort of thing generally hits the AP wire and gets 30 seconds on a Nashville station. Nashville that was all over the Longshoremen strike like white on rice.

 

[WhatInThe]

Seems obvious to me.

Strikes are supposed to be a last ditch effort when the employer refuses to negotiate. Take that away and there is no collective bargaining. The threat of the hardships of deprivation (loss of profits and disgruntled customers) are the leverage a strike is intended to provide.

So if the workers are "kept working" what incentive exists for the employer to negotiate? They've already refused to in the first place.

I get that as ex union member who was involved in multiple strikes and contract negotiations. Unless pay offers are insanely low or stupid there's usually another issue. We had to fight to keep a pensions plan they wanted to convert to 401s etc and the use of subcontractors.

My guess they might fear the use of automation or non union workers. Or maybe they want more hires and are tired of ot. But usually there's that sticking point issue.

 

[fuzzybuddy]

The first rule of politics is you can't do anything without goring someone's ox. That means no matter what you do/don't do, has consequences, which will negatively affect others. Each side of a strike want his ox to be gored less.

 

[jimintoronto]

The Canadian Federal Government forced both sides into binding arbitration, and the strike ended after a week. JIM.