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Port strike averted, but economist says automation should be embraced

A second U.S. port strike has been averted after the union representing 45,000 dockworkers on the east and Gulf Coasts struck a tentative deal Wednesday on a new six-year contract.

Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says the key issue has been port workers fighting to save their jobs from automation.  

“That’s just a non starter for economists. We need to see all of us adapt to changing environment, whether it’s AI or whether it’s automation or whatever we wish to call it. That has real positive impacts on the overall growth and we don’t need to be halting growth in the U.S. economy,” he says.

In a joint statement, the International Longshoremen’s Association and United States Maritime Alliance said the tentative agreement protects current jobs and establishes a framework for implementing new technology to modernize shipyards, while also ensuring new jobs are created to support such technology.

The two sides have agreed to continue operating under the current contract until the ILA can ratify the new deal with its members.