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President Donald Trump expressed his support for America’s dockworkers on Thursday following a meeting with union leaders.
Trump posted a statement to his Truth Social account after meeting with Harold Daggett, the president of the International Longshoreman’s Association, and Dennis Daggett, the union’s executive vice president.
“There has been a lot of discussion having to do with ‘automation’ on United States docks. I’ve studied automation, and know just about everything there is to know about it. The amount of money saved is nowhere near the distress, hurt, and harm it causes for American Workers, in this case, our Longshoremen,” Trump began.
“Foreign companies have made a fortune in the U.S. by giving them access to our markets. They shouldn’t be looking for every last penny knowing how many families are hurt. They’ve got record profits, and I’d rather these foreign companies spend it on the great men and women on our docks, than machinery, which is expensive, and which will constantly have to be replaced. In the end, there’s no gain for them, and I hope that they will understand how important an issue this is for me,” he continued.
Trump emphasized the need to put America’s workers first instead of laying them off or sending profits to other nations.
“For the great privilege of accessing our markets, these foreign companies should hire our incredible American Workers, instead of laying them off, and sending those profits back to foreign countries. It is time to put AMERICA FIRST!” he concluded.
The Maritime Alliance said in a statement that the contract also extends to “supporting American consumers and giving American businesses access to the global marketplace – from farmers, to manufacturers, to small businesses, and innovative start-ups looking for new markets to sell their products.”
“To achieve this, we need modern technology that is proven to improve worker safety, boost port efficiency, increase port capacity, and strengthen our supply chains,” said the alliance, noting plans to collaborate effectively with Trump once he takes office.
The union represents about 45,000 dockworkers. The group launched a three-day strike in October before accepting an agreement.
