The United States could soon face empty fruit aisles and sky-high prices as 45,000 dockworkers threaten to walk off the job.
The looming strike, set to begin Oct. 1, could paralyze major ports on the East Coast and Gulf Coast, eventually affecting supplies of popular U.S. fruits such as bananas, as well as plywood and other items.
Americans consume more bananas per capita than any other fresh fruit, and as many as two-thirds of them arrive through threatened ports.
The International Longshoremen’s Association, led by Harold Daggett, is demanding a massive 80 percent pay rise over six years.
The US could soon face empty fruit aisles and rising prices as 45,000 dockworkers threaten to walk off the job
The looming strike, set to begin Oct. 1, could paralyze major ports on the East Coast and Gulf Coast, eventually affecting supplies of popular U.S. fruits such as bananas, as well as plywood and other goods.
“A sleeping giant is set to roar on Tuesday 1 October 2024, if a new Framework Agreement is not signed,” Daggett said.
They argue that workers deserve a share of the profits that shipping companies have made during the pandemic.
There is also a debate about automation, which threatens to completely derail the negotiations.
Industry experts warn that a one-week work stoppage could cost the economy a staggering $7.5 billion, the report said. Orange County Record.
It comes at a critical time, with the US economy grappling with persistent inflation and a slowing labor market.
Peter Kopke Sr., an agricultural importer, stressed the cost of the strike.
The International Longshoremen’s Association, led by Harold Daggett (pictured), is demanding a massive 80 percent pay rise over six years.
Industry experts warn that a one-week work stoppage could cost the economy a staggering $7.5 billion.
“Any fruit that arrives after October 1 will be condemned to the trash,” Kopke Sr. told the outlet. “And all the people who have invested in that business will lose a fortune.”
It’s not just bananas that are at risk.
Port Wilmington in Delaware, a key hub for Dole and Chiquita, is the country’s main gateway for a variety of imported fruits.
It includes all fruits, from Argentine pears and New Zealand kiwis to Chilean grapes and Moroccan clementines.
Experts warn that fruit prices could skyrocket within weeks, potentially forcing some small businesses to close their doors for good.
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