[kezekiel]

these poor bastards must now go back to work for their $80-$160 K per year...

I'm an unemployed high tech worker, and I'd take one of those jobs for less than they make and be thrilled with it, and in a year I'd be thier boss because I actually show up to work, not for work.

[Smogger]

Why is it do you think that longshoreman make so much? Would you care to hazard a guess?

I'll give you a hint. It's the same reason brakeman/switchman (who are also union) make so much working for the railroad.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

The Longshoremen used to control he docks around the Great Lakes, too, but the shippers got wise. Since most of what they haul is bulk commodities like iron ore, coal and stone, the vessels were designed to unload themselves. They don't need tugs, either since they have bow and stern thrusters and can bring themselves up to a dock without Longshoremen.

[JimFreedom]

Me too! I have been out of work for a year. I would take the 100K WITHOUT free medical. You can take your UNION and Shove It up your socialist A$$!

[lewislynn]

I'm an unemployed high tech worker, and I'd take one of those jobs for less than they make and be thrilled with it, and in a year I'd be thier boss because I actually show up to work, not for work.

If you're so good, why are you out of a tech or otherwise job?

With that attitude you couldn't be opposed to foreign Tech. workers here with H1-B visas taking your job for less money either...The difference between you and unions is, though you may not like it, they're organized and know how to protect their own and now you're wishing you were them.

[UnBlinkingEye]

I'm an unemployed high tech worker...

As am I and as are hundreds of thousands of others. If we had formed unions and fought H1-B and didn't fall for phony stock options we might not be unemployed.

[blueriver]

I'm an unemployed high tech worker, and I'd take one of those jobs for less than they make and be thrilled with it, and in a year I'd be thier boss because I actually show up to work, not for work.

These people are fighting to keep the high tech work from being done off shore. This info not being reported. The heart of the dispute is who controls the new port jobs that come with installing centralized new logistics systems at terminals to improve operations. That includes software to manipulate shipping data from around the world, optical technology to scan containers, global position satellites to track containers and software to dispatch cranes.. See http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/4201368.htm. These people are tryng to protect high tech jobs!