Possible strike at port of houston

[TexasBob]

I hope the irony isn’t lost on anyone that striking to avoid automation is just another argument for automation. Cranes don’t get their knickers in a knot and go on strike.

I don’t see how this ends quickly. I would love to hear a true argument laid out for being union, including a cost benefit analysis on dues vs return.

also, why doesn’t the port just agree to the terms, send everyone back to work and then roll out automation to replace them? Is the only repercussion another strike?

[Traildust]

I hope the irony isn’t lost on anyone that striking to avoid automation is just another argument for automation. Cranes don’t get their knickers in a knot and go on strike.

I don’t see how this ends quickly. I would love to hear a true argument laid out for being union, including a cost benefit analysis on dues vs return.

also, why doesn’t the port just agree to the terms, send everyone back to work and then roll out automation to replace them? Is the only repercussion another strike?

I'm actually running project controls for a union job in a power plant. Every contractor here are out of a local. Talking will the folks I'm working with, having a pension when they retire is #1 on their list.

[Bayouboy]

I hope the irony isn’t lost on anyone that striking to avoid automation is just another argument for automation. Cranes don’t get their knickers in a knot and go on strike.

I don’t see how this ends quickly. I would love to hear a true argument laid out for being union, including a cost benefit analysis on dues vs return.

also, why doesn’t the port just agree to the terms, send everyone back to work and then roll out automation to replace them? Is the only repercussion another strike?

So, you are advocating for the companies to agree to a contract, sign it, and then break it? It doesn't quiet work that way. That would be an unfair labor practice, grievances would be filed, there would be arbitration, lawyer fees, fines, all type of genies would come out the bottle. After losing the arbitration whatever automation was installed would be removed or turned off. Basically a waste of time and money. Not really a good idea. My thoughts are you will never stop automation 100%. But, you could get some language around it in the contract to limit the effect it has on workers and jobs.

[TexasBob]

I'm actually running project controls for a union job in a power plant. Every contractor here are out of a local. Talking will the folks I'm working with, having a pension when they retire is #1 on their list.

Interesting. I can see that, a pension is huge and not common any longer. Thanks for the insight

[Graysonhogs]

Automations cost jobs. The storage lockers we used before had a live person running them. We rented one about two weeks ago and it all automated. You don’t deal with a person. One maintenance man for whole compound. IMO you need the human factor

It's a story as old as time. I'm sure the street lamp lighter's unions fought electricity tooth and nail. Carriage makers hated cars. You get the point. Jobs don't disappear, they just "shift".

[TexasBob]

So, you are advocating for the companies to agree to a contract, sign it, and then break it? It doesn't quite work that way. That would be an unfair labor practice, grievances would be filed, there would be arbitration, lawyer fees, fines, all type of genies would come out the bottle. After losing the arbitration whatever automation was installed would be removed or turned off. Basically a waste of time and money. Not really a good idea. My thoughts are you will never stop automation 100%. But, you could get some language around it in the contract to limit the effect it has on workers and jobs.

Not advocating for it just learning. I’ve never been on either side of the table a since we ripped the bandaid off of a taboo topic discussion I’m all in. The automation catches my attention because it is looked at to replace folks in my world as well (finance/accounting/analysis). It never works well for detailed tasks but has some benefit.

edit- probably sounds like my comments are against you/unions. Don’t mean it that way just have zero knowledge of that side so that’s the direction of my questions.

[Graysonhogs]

Boys and girls I have been yanking your chains. Giving you a nice dose of your own medicine. Please don't ever try negotiating. Most of you lose your composure way too easy and show your cards. Do I support ILA. You bet I do. They know if they don't protect their jobs and keep up with inflation caused by the idiots in charge of this country they will fall behind even further than they are now. One other thing.... stop believing everything you here and read from the media. Every time our contract is up most of the stuff I read and see in the media is total BS.

I have been a union member for over thirty years. A steward for 27, and a union chairman for around 12. I have seen both the good and the bad from the union and the company side.
I can definitely say the union has made things much better in my work place both safety and salary/benefits wise. Trashing someone's livelihood when you are not educated on the matter is pure ignorance.

By the way.... Vance kicked some arse last night

I agree. However, that union boss comes across as a mafia thug, or an extra on The Sopranos, complete with that giant *** chain and medallion. I'll assume he doesn't have PR people.
I just hope everything gets ironed out sooner than later.

[Traildust]

I agree. However, that union boss comes across as a mafia thug, or an extra on The Sopranos, complete with that giant *** chain and medallion. I'll assume he doesn't have PR people.
I just hope everything gets ironed out sooner than later.

I just actually watched that video.....I agree 100% with your statement.

[SaltwaterSlick]

So, you are advocating for the companies to agree to a contract, sign it, and then break it? It doesn't quiet work that way. That would be an unfair labor practice, grievances would be filed, there would be arbitration, lawyer fees, fines, all type of genies would come out the bottle. After losing the arbitration whatever automation was installed would be removed or turned off. Basically a waste of time and money. Not really a good idea. My thoughts are you will never stop automation 100%. But, you could get some language around it in the contract to limit the effect it has on workers and jobs.

Yea, just like the railroads were forced to put a fireman on all diesel-electric locomotives. Just like the shipping companies were forced to use 19th century engine order telegraphs to send control orders to the engine room on US flag ships. Just like any union worker that falls under a certain job description can only do work in that description. Takes sometimes twice as many people to do a project in a union facility because pipe fitters and electricians have to have riggers to put up scaffolding to work in an elevated position… union job descriptions are purposefully written to maximize the number of people required to get any job done.
I spent 46 years here on the Gulf Coast serving the petro-chemical facilities here and without exception, the union plants were the worst facilities I had to work in. It took me twice as long and cost twice as much to get my products installed in those plants.
The reason these ILA thugs are on strike is because progress eliminates the need for them. They are a dying dinosaur struggling to hang on to the past. They know their days are numbered and the country will be better off when the last one is gone. Unions, by their very nature and purpose fights innovation and progress. That is no small contributor to the exporting of our manufacturing and technology to foreign countries. The unions today are creating more job opportunities for people in China, India, Pakistan, Mexico, Viet-Nam than here in the USA.

[Bayouboy]

Not advocating for it just learning. I’ve never been on either side of the table a since we ripped the bandaid off of a taboo topic discussion I’m all in. The automation catches my attention because it is looked at to replace folks in my world as well (finance/accounting/analysis). It never works well for detailed tasks but has some benefit.

edit- probably sounds like my comments are against you/unions. Don’t mean it that way just have zero knowledge of that side so that’s the direction of my questions.

I have a feeling the automation is partially about self check in/out for trucks. Days of standing around with a clip board are probably numbered. Workers will still have to hook up the cargo and operate cranes. I caught the president stating they caught some truckers in Mobile doing self check in and out. That is what makes me think it is along those lines.

[Dusty Britches]

I think that if the union can be strong enough to shut down the US economy, they have become a monopoly and should be broken up. They should not be able to bargain with other people's livelihoods and lives, and that is exactly what they are doing.

They are seriously putting our country at risk.

[Dusty Britches]

B...
I can definitely say the union has made things much better in my work place both safety and salary/benefits wise.

Not really a good idea. My thoughts are you will never stop automation 100%. But, you could get some language around it in the contract to limit the effect it has on workers and jobs.

But the Longshoreman's Union is against all new technology and automation. That is what they are demanding. That union boss was angry with available technology that scan the loads before they even make it to the docks (both incoming and outgoing) and so the company wouldn't have to pay a human to do it.. Actually it was several humans. So, now they union is forcing a worker to stay in that job instead of allowing the company to create new more valuable positions to operate that tech.

By not allowing the companies to automate, the unions are directly reducing the ability to improve safety and efficiency. There are other ways to improve job security for these workers. Also, while the rest of the world moves into technology and automation, it will become more and more difficult for the US docks to handle the loads on the ships. They are cutting off their nose to spite their face and soon they won't be able to breathe.

[friscopaint]

I hope the irony isn’t lost on anyone that striking to avoid automation is just another argument for automation. Cranes don’t get their knickers in a knot and go on strike.

I don’t see how this ends quickly. I would love to hear a true argument laid out for being union, including a cost benefit analysis on dues vs return.

also, why doesn’t the port just agree to the terms, send everyone back to work and then roll out automation to replace them? Is the only repercussion another strike?

Yep. No way any company or organization should ever rule out automation. Holding economy hostage doesn't give me a warm and fuzzy feeling for the workers either.....

[Playa]

I think that if the union can be strong enough to shut down the US economy, they have become a monopoly and should be broken up. They should not be able to bargain with other people's livelihoods and lives, and that is exactly what they are doing.

They are seriously putting our country at risk.

This is the most logical & valid argument on this topic that I’ve read in this thread

[friscopaint]

I think that if the union can be strong enough to shut down the US economy, they have become a monopoly and should be broken up. They should not be able to bargain with other people's livelihoods and lives, and that is exactly what they are doing.

They are seriously putting our country at risk.

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