By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-09-23 21:20:47 | Updated at 2024-09-30 15:31:31
6 days ago
America could soon face empty fruit aisles and skyrocketing prices as 45,000 dockworkers threaten to walk off the job,
The looming strike, set to begin October 1, could potentially bring major East Coast and Gulf Coast ports to a standstill - eventually impacting America's supply of popular fruits including bananas, as well as plywood and other items.
Americans consume more bananas per capita than any other fresh fruit, and a whopping two-thirds of them arrive through the threatened ports.
The International Longshoremen's Association, led by Harold Daggett, is demanding a massive 80 percent pay raise over six years.
America could soon face empty fruit aisles and skyrocketing prices as 45,000 dockworkers threaten to walk off the job
The looming strike, set to begin October 1, could potentially bring major East Coast and Gulf Coast ports to a standstill - eventually impacting America's supply of popular fruits including bananas, as well as plywood and other items
'A sleeping giant is ready to roar on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, if a new Master Contract Agreement is not in place,' said Daggett.
They argue workers deserve a share of the profits shipping companies reaped during the pandemic.
There is also a debate over automation, which threatens to derail negotiations completely.
Industry experts warn that a weeklong work stoppage could cost the economy a staggering $7.5 billion, as reported by the Orange County Register.
It comes at a critical time as the US economy grapples with lingering inflation and a slowing job market.
Peter Kopke Sr., a produce importer, emphasized the cost of the strike.
The International Longshoremen's Association, led by Harold Daggett (pictured), is demanding a massive 80 percent pay raise over six years
Industry experts warn that a weeklong work stoppage could cost the economy a staggering $7.5 billion
'Any fruit that arrives after Oct. 1 will be condemned to the trash can,' Kopke told the outlet, Sr. 'And all of the people who have invested in that business will lose a fortune.'
It's not just bananas at risk.
Port Wilmington in Delaware, a key hub for Dole and Chiquita, is the nation's top gateway for a variety of imported fruits.
It includes all fruit from Argentinian 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.
