[cookcounty]

". The number of posters rushing to criticize the union members for "striking" when they are in fact "locked out" amazes me. Don't people even read the articles that are posted?" "I fail to see how Bush ordering a return to work could "energize" the union base when he is going against management by ordering longshoremen back to work."

Since there is no contract, management should announce that they're reducing pay by 20% and open the gates. If nobody shows up, they should hire those that want to work. Maybe they'll find guys smart enough to understand barcodes.

I'll bet dockworkers in Vancouver BC and in Mexico are pocketing a lot of OT!

[Future Useless Eater]

I'll bet dockworkers in Vancouver BC and in Mexico are pocketing a lot of OT!

speaking of Mexico, Why, as soon as NAFTA passed, why didn't Mexico build the largest shipyards in the world?

There would be no need for USA west coast longshoremen!
The average salary there would be about $10,000 per year and much of those savings would pass on to our US consumers.
Even Mexican truckers would get some of the pie as they would likely be allowed to deliver goods at least to the southwest USA, and that would further reduce the cost of goods in the stores.