Rita’s Commentary on The Maritime Executive article, “Port Strikes: German Union Rejects Deal, India Settles, US Seeks Mediation“
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This is the beginning of the global labour unions reacting to how current federal and state deals of land ownership and investment by foreign companies, specifically maritime asset owners, are determining the fate and future of how human labour is valued or dispensable.
Today we see two forces coming together that do not bring the same ideology, socialization and conditioning, economic equality and gains, health and vigor for purpose in the world of labour.
One is technology and innovation, in the name of progress and efficiency to make this planet (to make this planet what ??), the other is human performance and investment, including fair wages and job security.
The labour contract negotiations, under international longshore workers today, are having to address the impacts of capital asset investment and federal policies influencing how labour is being allocated, measured, and deployed, including its monetary value.
The hard work ethic of the human body, ability to use judgement and vigor in its efforts to get the job done, is now competing with new systems of high value and very complex technology software systems.
Interestingly enough, the Indian government was able to settle with its 12 ports and unions that provide labour to keep them operating on time and on schedule for the continuing flow of goods and services to its people of India. The price of an 8% increase in wages to account for a 3-year delay in a new contract for these workers equals a small percentage of yearly inflationary trends we see everywhere in the world for the people, including the labour, to sustain their cost of living.
Cost of living is not the only concession to be considered in the contract negotiations of labour, union and port owners. Rather the impacts of new ownership or investors taking control of the port from its operations, schedules, rotations, terminal slot times, equipment use, automated systems, energy and power use, robotics, AI and block chain digital documentation systems of reporting.
CMA CGM made it clear it would automate ports functions, as it would take control of its purchase of East Coast US ports, including robotics to offload containers.
A real comparison needs to be made in wages, benefits, sick days, holiday days, transportation to and from work, pension plans, training and educational progressions, against robotics and automated systems, which is the larger concern any labour pool would have in its position to negotiate on fair terms. This is where the balance of power, control, surveillance and big tech companies all fall into the hands of the decision-makers and deal-makers, who influence policies and legislation.
The parties in these negotiations all battle for a result that brings benefits to each party having its own vested interests as operators of a system, and the other seeking to protect its livelihood through fair compensation under agreeable terms.
