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The International Longshoremen’s Association went on strike for the first time in decades. Today’s show breaks this down.

Thousands of members walked off the job, demanding protections from automation and a pay increase.

“It would be one thing if these have been people who have been underpaid, this is the backbone of America and the offers that have been made have been cutbacks and no concessions,” Crowder said.

According to the BBC:

USMX said its most recent offer would boost pay by nearly 50%, triple company contributions to retirement and improve healthcare, among other concessions.

The organization said the offer exceeded "every other recent union settlement" and called the current stand-off "completely unavoidable".

They also want less automation, “which has put us behind the rest of the world in basic management in our ports,” Crowder added.

Kamala pretended to take the union's side, claiming that “The Longshoremen, who play a vital role transporting essential goods across America, deserve a fair share of these record profits.”

A 50% pay increase is not enough, even though it far outpaces inflation. And they claim they won’t stop until their 77% pay increase demands are met.

“These workers are incredibly well-compensated,” Crowder said.

Over ⅓ of Longshoremen, workers are paid more than $200,000.

“At one point do you say ‘maybe unions aren't looking out for the American worker, they are looking out for the unions?’” Crowder said.

The workers on strike are also claiming this will “safeguard” future jobs.

“The demands they are making will accelerate job losses unbelievably,” Crowder said. "The overly represented power of the unions empowers China because that is what makes them so unaffordable here."

The US has only three automated ports while China has 18 with 27 more under construction.

"Out of the top 50 most efficient ports in the world, zero American ones make the list," Crowder added. "Are you starting to get the picture?"

The union workers are forbidding automation from actually serving America.

"In many circumstances, automation can be good for people," Crowder said. "Do you actually think these kinds of salaries are sustainable for the rest of the country?"