Longshoremen strike 2024

[Flmope]

It looks as if the Longshoreman union on the east and gulf coast is going to strike.

We could be looking at shortages and economic damage. On what scale I don't have a clue.


What items should be stockpiling other than the basics of food, water etc?

[NT2C]

With the West Coast ports still open, as well as trucking routes through Canada and Mexico, the strike will have an impact but not as much as the fear-mongering media would have you believe.  As for stockpiling, so long as that's all it is, a little bit extra to tide you over if the supply dries up, then we at UFoZS are all for it.  We draw a hard line at hoarding or profiteering though.

With that as a given then, figuring out what to stock up on is fairly simple.  Take a walk through your house and look at the country of origin on every product that you normally keep a small supply of or restock frequently.  From that you should get a good idea what ports it likely comes through.  If East coast, that's what you need to stock.

[MacWa77ace]

Depending on how long the strike is there will be an effect on ships still 'on the water'. They won't have anyplace to unload. Those ships started out weeks about coming from the east and there's no way they'd divert thru the panama canal at the rates they charged for an east coast delivery.

My company will be affected for the containerized products we receive from overseas. EU and Asia. We receive into the major ports on the map. It's cost restrictive to move something by rail or truck from the western US ports to the east of the Mississippi. So I think its going to look a little like it did with all those ships sitting off the coasts of the port cities. 

But other than horders taking all the toilet paper and paper towels, and processed foods to some degree during covid, I'd say that logistics disaster will make this one look like a nuthing burger.

BTW, they want a 77% pay increase for the workers making 100K and crane operators making $300K currently. All those workers are in the top 2% right now.   

[Anianna]

Why does that say Dec 30?  Today was the deadline and the strike began today. 

[MacWa77ace]

@Anianna Its an old picture but accurately represents the ports and traffic volume. It was more for the graphic not thr words.

[Anianna]

I missed that the data was from 2010, so from a previous incident. 

[Moab]

Depending on how long the strike is there will be an effect on ships still 'on the water'. They won't have anyplace to unload. Those ships started out weeks about coming from the east and there's no way they'd divert thru the panama canal at the rates they charged for an east coast delivery.

My company will be affected for the containerized products we receive from overseas. EU and Asia. We receive into the major ports on the map. It's cost restrictive to move something by rail or truck from the western US ports to the east of the Mississippi. So I think its going to look a little like it did with all those ships sitting off the coasts of the port cities. 

But other than horders taking all the toilet paper and paper towels, and processed foods to some degree during covid, I'd say that logistics disaster will make this one look like a nuthing burger.

BTW, they want a 77% pay increase for the workers making 100K and crane operators making $300K currently. All those workers are in the top 2% right now.   

Whatever their pay is we as a working nation have not fully adjusted to just how much it costs to live these days. And a big part of why Americans can no longer afford to live. Is the vast number of salaries that have not accounted for inflation since maybe the 80s.

In 1976 a shoe salesman made the equivalent of six figures today. He could afford a house, a car, a wife and a couple kids. These days that same guy has two jobs. As does his wife. And can barely afford to stay alive without roommates. Most kids ( even college graduates) now live with their parents into their 30s.

We got sold a bill of goods when they told us unions are bad and we should pass NAFTA. Allowing every US company to manufacture their goods overseas. At a salary rate that is pennies on the dollar compared to here.

Those two things have gutted our country.

I can't imagine how many billions of dollars corporations have saved by busting unions and manufacturing everything they make in a third world country. Paying $2 an hour instead of even $15 here. Which we all know is woefully below your ability to live even modestly in either place.

I personally don't care how much the dockworkers are asking for. Any union left that exercises it's leverage for more. Sends a message to these international corporations that don't pay US taxes. And hide it all overseas. That paying poverty wages and sending all of their jobs overseas. Is ruining the country. The middle class is all but gone.

It also sends a message that collective bargaining is the only thing these massive corporations take seriously. Because they have too. Working conditions in America and across many parts of the world we're horrific before unions formed. And the generally higher rate of pay is what created the middle class here.

Maybe if an engineer or crane operator gets a raise. That poor kid peeing in a cup and having his every step monitored by Amazon. Will eventually not have to live at home. With 6 people in a 3 bedroom house. Because that's all they can afford.

Everyday we hear about the homeless problem on the news. Yet nobody can figure out why it's hapoening or how to solve it. Yet to everyday Americans it's clear. You can't work for minimum wage ($7.50 per hr?!!) or anything close to that. An afford rent. Let alone every other service it takes to live. That is massively overpriced by these same massive corporations that refuse to pay living wages. Maybe offer basic jobs with a living wage? Might that help keep the vast number of people from being homeless. Or working two or three jobs for a miserable hourly rate?

I hope the crane operators gets twice their salary. Which is a very dangerous and has always paid well. But that's beside the point.

[Raptor]

The ILA are not striking in Gulfport MS. They stated support for the union but said they were not asked to strike due to fact it is a low volume port.
 

[MacWa77ace]

The ILA are not striking in Gulfport MS. They stated support for the union but said they were not asked to strike due to fact it is a low volume port.
 

During the Covid logistics crisis, if the wait at a port was more than a bit, our carriers would look for a slot at an alternate port within a feesable range and divert if they could get a slot. For instance, Miami would go to Savanna or Tampa rather than wait 6 weeks if they could get unloaded in 3.

That sleepy little port could become the giant circle on the map.

[Flmope]

Thanks for the replies.

Not even thinking of hoarding.

Just trying to make commonsense adjustments to spending habits for necessities.

[Moab]

Thanks for the replies.

Not even thinking of hoarding.

Just trying to make commonsense adjustments to spending habits for necessities.

What home preps do you already have? I think it's more important that you begin adding basic bug in preps. Before trying to guess what might be affected by a shipping stroke. 

Here's a basic list generated by AI. But there are much better ones out there. At least cover water, food, gas and fuel for cooking & boiling water, first aid, :

1. Water Supply: Store at least one gallon per person per day for 3-7 days.

2. Non-perishable Food: Canned goods, dry mixes, and ready-to-eat meals for at least 3-7 days.

3. First Aid Kit: Include bandages, antiseptics, pain relievers, and any necessary prescription medications.

4. Flashlights and Batteries: Ensure you have extra batteries or rechargeable options.

5. Emergency Radio: Preferably a hand-crank or battery-powered model.

6. Multi-tool: Useful for various repair and survival tasks.

7. Extra Blankets or Sleeping Bags: Keep warm during power outages.

8. Personal Hygiene Items: Soap, hand sanitizer, and toiletries.

9. Backup Power Supply: Portable chargers or solar chargers for electronics.

10. Important Documents: Copies of identification, insurance, and emergency contact information in a waterproof container.

11. Fire Extinguisher: Make sure it's up-to-date and accessible.

12. Basic Tool Kit: Hammer, nails, duct tape, and plastic sheeting for repairs.

13. Cash: Small bills in case ATMs or card services are down.

14. Pet Supplies: If applicable, food, water, and medications for pets.

15. Evacuation Plan: Routes and meeting spots for family members.

[Flmope]

By looking at your list the biggest gaps I see are two

Water storage.
We have two to three weeks of water on hand at all time.
Not enough

Power generation.
We have multiple rechargeable battery packs including solar powered.
But nothing big enough to power a refrigerator or furnace.

Recommendations for both are welcome.

[Moab]

By looking at your list the biggest gaps I see are two

Water storage.
We have two to three weeks of water on hand at all time.
Not enough

Power generation.
We have multiple rechargeable battery packs including solar powered.
But nothing big enough to power a refrigerator or furnace.

Recommendations for both are welcome.

This thread answers the water storage question. Unless you have space for 50 gal barrels. You search yt and online for ways to buy and outfit and store 50 gal food grade barrels. Which is maybe more economical. But requires more space. This discussion is on 7 gal water containers. That are cheap and stackable.

https://ufozs.com/smf/index.php?topic=2408.0#msg45113

For the generator, check the power section. Your options are wide. Depends on how much you want to run. My suggestion would be a gas powered generator for transportable power. But if you want a permenant solution for your entire home. There are threads and other folks in here that can help. I think @Raptor has a large one and a couple other people.

[MacWa77ace]

@Flmope 1gallon per person per day. I store about 2 weeks fo 2 people at all times and have containers enough to fill in an emergency for a month for 2 people. After that I have sources and filtration and purification.

[MacWa77ace]

In this scenario, labor strike, there's not going to be a water shortage from that directly though.

Bananas, very likely.

[DarkAxel]

By looking at your list the biggest gaps I see are two

Water storage.
We have two to three weeks of water on hand at all time.
Not enough

Power generation.
We have multiple rechargeable battery packs including solar powered.
But nothing big enough to power a refrigerator or furnace.

Recommendations for both are welcome.

If you are trying to run a fridge and an electric furnace you need a 60 amp generator at minimum. If it's a heat pump, 60 would be fine, though if you are running the e-heat tapes you're apt to trip a breaker on the gennie. Those tapes and furnace elements draw a LOT of amps. 100 amp gennie should run anything in your house, though. You'll want to find the information plate on the furnace/heat pump to find out just how many amps it needs.

As far as the water goes, you can pick up some water treatment and filtering options to supplement your water stores. Those things pack and store better than bricks of drinking water, and you can treat a lot more than you can store in water for the same amount of money.

[NT2C]

By looking at your list the biggest gaps I see are two

Water storage.
We have two to three weeks of water on hand at all time.
Not enough

Power generation.
We have multiple rechargeable battery packs including solar powered.
But nothing big enough to power a refrigerator or furnace.

Recommendations for both are welcome.

If you are trying to run a fridge and an electric furnace you need a 60 amp generator at minimum. If it's a heat pump, 60 would be fine, though if you are running the e-heat tapes you're apt to trip a breaker on the gennie. Those tapes and furnace elements draw a LOT of amps. 100 amp gennie should run anything in your house, though. You'll want to find the information plate on the furnace/heat pump to find out just how many amps it needs.

As far as the water goes, you can pick up some water treatment and filtering options to supplement your water stores. Those things pack and store better than bricks of drinking water, and you can treat a lot more than you can store in water for the same amount of money.

My experience with our all-electric house is that if you rotate your loads you can get by with a smaller generator.  We have a 6800 watt (surge) 30A generator that I used to connect up to branches of the house systems on a rotating basis during outages.  Lighting was always on, as were the LR and office outlets.  That kept the home network running and gave us internet if the cable was okay.  As needed I would connect the branch for the water heater, wall oven, cooktop, even the washer and electric dryer, just being careful to never get two big appliances on at the same time.  I didn't worry about the fridge and freezer as combined they didn't ever exceed 600 watts so I just let them run.  The water heater is well-insulated and oversized for just the two of us, so we had hot/very warm water for bathing and the like with just running it by itself for an hour a day.  For heat we had propane and kerosene heaters and in the summer there's ceiling fans in almost every room.  If needed I also have a portable AC unit that draws very little and can be used to cool say a bedroom.

[EBuff75]

Reports are that a tentative agreement has been reached and that normal operations will resume tomorrow. 

https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/03/business/port-strike-union-deal/index.html
https://www.wect.com/video/2024/10/03/local-ila-members-say-port-strike-has-ended/
https://abcnews.go.com/US/dockworkers-strike-suspended-sources/story?id=114445386

I imagine it'll take a couple of weeks to get the whole backlog cleared up.

[Rednex]

Just putting this out there because well it deal with this.

I emailed a client today at work telling them there order we be delayed about a month. There immediate reply was "WoW a month it is because of the port strike".

I replied with what it really was " no anything bigger than this size is special and is a longer lead time. your order was for bigger than stock size" .

[Raptor]

I assumed once I saw aerial photos of the ILA president's home in NJ, it was clear someone turned up the heat on him. So a short tern kick the can down the road until after November does not surprise me.