Strikes by clerical workers have brought most of the work at some of the nation's busiest ports to a standdstill.
The workers are concerned about their jobs being outsourced, since much of the work is done on computers and could be done from just about anywhere. The striking workers earn an average of more than $160,000 a year, and they've been offered raises to $190,000 a year, plus an increase to 11 weeks of paid vacation. The company has also addressed concerns about outsourcing jobs by offering the workers lifelong job security.
And yet, there's been no agreement on a new contract. We wonder, what exactly are the workers looking for?
Meanwhile, seven of eight terminals in Los Angeles and three terminals in Long Beach remain closed to cargo container traffic because dockworkers, who are in a separate union, refuse to cross picket lines set up by the clerical workers. The ports handle 40 percent of the nation's imports. As of Friday, at least 18 ships were anchored offshore, unable to offload their cargo because of the strike.
It all sounds like nonsense to us, especially when there are thousands of unemployed people across the country who would no doubt be happy to earn $190,000 and have 11 weeks of paid vacation to do computer work. We hope the strikers come to their senses, and soon.