Thank you. That's the most comprehensive explanation I've seen.
I'm in no way in agreement with the dock workers, but their high salary might be a reflection of the cost of living on the West Coast.
Years and years ago, my husband was offered a position in California, (we're in FL), and the salary seemed outrageous. We then looked into the cost of living of CA versus FL and realized we'd be actually taking a step backwards once we figured in cost of living expenses.
Are the jobs related to Homeland Defense in anyway? Of course. The ports are vital to our economic well being. Second most of the military supplies still need to be delivered by ship and even more so in time of war.
Whether the new jobs are union or non-union doesn't affect homeland security one way or the other as long as they work.