The U.S. economy faces a potential crisis as Harold Daggett, president of the International Longshoreman Association (ILA), threatens to “cripple” the country with a massive strike.
In a video addressed to the public, Daggett warned of the devastating consequences a strike by the ILA’s 45,000 workers could have, targeting key periods such as hurricane recovery, the holiday season, and even the upcoming election.
The longshoremen’s union is demanding a 77% wage increase over the next six years, which exceeds the 50% already on the table from a coalition of port authorities, shipping companies, and merchant groups.
They are also fiercely opposing further automation at the nation’s ports, a sticking point that has sparked tension at the end of every union contract negotiation in recent years.
Daggett’s threats came with a stark and chilling tone. “I will cripple you, and you have no idea what that means,” he declared in a recorded message.
He further emphasized the indispensable role longshoremen play in the economy, remarking, “Everybody’s hating the longshoremen now because now they realize how important our jobs are.”
This rhetoric has alarmed many, as it evokes the kind of language often associated with organized crime. This isn’t a random association—Daggett himself fought off allegations in 2005 that he was involved with the Genovese crime family, a powerful faction of organized crime.
In 2005, The Star Ledger reported that a high-ranking member of the Genovese family, George Barone, who was also a known mob enforcer, had reportedly backed Daggett to become the ILA president.
Barone had claimed responsibility for at least ten killings and controlled key ILA locals in both New Jersey and Miami. Though Daggett successfully fought the allegations, his aggressive tone in labor disputes has only served to reinforce his hardened image.
The UK Telegraph recently published a headline that read, “Harold Daggett: How union leader who fought mob tie allegations is holding the U.S. economy to ransom,” underscoring the broader concerns over his tactics.
Daggett’s video outlines the potential domino effect if the longshoremen go on strike.
In the first week, he predicts the strike would dominate headlines as the media and public become aware of the impending disruption.
By the second week, car dealerships across the country would be forced to lay off employees as new vehicles from overseas fail to arrive at ports.
In the third week, shopping malls would start closing as goods from China and other foreign suppliers fail to make it into stores.
“Everything in the United States comes on a ship,” Daggett says, emphasizing the union’s leverage. He adds that the construction industry would soon follow, with layoffs hitting workers whose building materials, such as steel and lumber, would no longer be imported.
Daggett’s blunt message is clear: the strike would create a ripple effect that devastates multiple industries, leading to widespread economic turmoil.
Daggett also took aim at President Joe Biden, hinting that any attempt to invoke the Taft-Hartley Act—legislation that could force striking workers back to their jobs for a cooling-off period—would be futile.
“Go ahead,” Daggett said, imagining the president issuing the order. He explained that under Taft-Hartley, workers would be forced to return for 90 days, but in his view, the longshoremen would slow their work to a crawl, crippling productivity. He demonstrated the point by mimicking a choking gesture, suggesting that the companies would suffer massive financial losses during this period.
“You’re better off sitting down and getting a contract,” Daggett warned, asserting that the longshoremen have the upper hand. “In today’s world, I’ll cripple you, and you have no idea what that means.”
Making matters worse for the nation, Daggett’s threats are being echoed by West Coast dock workers, who have pledged solidarity with their fellow union members.
This could create an even more severe bottleneck, as ships currently being diverted from the East Coast to the West Coast in anticipation of the strike would be stranded offshore, unable to unload their cargo.
The convergence of potential strikes on both coasts threatens to paralyze the entire logistics chain, with goods sitting idle in ports and warehouses left empty. This situation could exacerbate existing supply chain issues, further inflating prices and compounding economic uncertainty ahead of the holiday season.
The timing of this labor dispute is especially precarious.
With the holiday shopping season approaching, hurricane recovery efforts underway, and a major election looming, the potential fallout from a strike of this magnitude could have far-reaching political, social, and economic consequences.
While the union fights for its demands, the public and businesses alike stand on the edge, waiting to see if a deal can be reached or if Daggett’s threat to “cripple” the country becomes a reality.
WATCH:
