A new piece of legislation introduced by House Republican Rep. Michelle Steel (R-Calif.) seeks to give the federal government greater authority to intervene in strikes by dockworkers, a move aimed at preventing disruptions to the nation’s supply chains.
This proposal comes as concerns mount about the economic impact of such labor actions, especially in light of the upcoming November 5 election.
With lawmakers growing increasingly worried about the potential ripple effects a dockworker strike could have on the US economy and consumers, the proposed bill, titled the Safeguarding Our Supply Chain Act, addresses this issue by expanding the scope of the Railway Labor Act (RLA). Currently, the RLA applies to rail and airline workers, mandating that both unions and employers must exhaust all mediation efforts before strikes can take place. The bill would extend these requirements to longshore workers on the East and Gulf coasts.
By including dockworkers under the RLA, the bill aims to prevent strikes that could disrupt interstate commerce and lead to product shortages, rising prices, and significant economic losses.
Longshore workers are responsible for managing the flow of goods through some of the nation’s busiest ports. A prolonged strike could not only delay imports but also affect the availability of critical consumer goods, from food to electronics. According to some estimates, such disruptions could cost the economy billions of dollars daily, with widespread implications for various industries.
“Widespread strikes at American ports threaten product shortages and price increases for consumers. Congress must act to protect our economy and get our supply chains moving again,” stated Rep. Steel underscored these concerns.
The introduction of this legislation comes amid heightened political tensions, as lawmakers from both parties push for emergency funds to address international and domestic crises. However, given that Congress is currently in recess, a vote on the bill is unlikely before the election. If passed, the legislation would pave the way for Congress to step in and impose labor contract agreements if mediation efforts fail, similar to how the Biden administration intervened to resolve the 2022 rail worker strike.
