Longshore workers support a bill to block state funding for port automation, citing job losses in Seattle and Tacoma, reports S&P Global.
Longshore workers in Washington State backed a bill that would permanently block state money from funding port automation, citing job losses at Seattle and Tacoma, reports London's S&P Global.
The measure, introduced earlier this month, allows state funds for zero-emission cargo equipment but bans purchases of fully automated container handling systems. It follows 2021 legislation with a 2031 expiry, but the new bill has no sunset clause. State Senator Jesse Salomon stated that the aim is to ensure human labor remains valued.
ILWU Washington Area District Council President Dan McKisson, representing 5,000 dockers, argued that marine terminals are controlled by international firms and private equity and do not need taxpayer money for automation. He contended that such funding benefits companies, not ports, workers, or communities.
Seattle and Tacoma ports have long utilized optical character readers and remote speaker boxes at gates, which have reduced clerical jobs. ILWU Local 52 President Kesa Sten noted that computerized auto gates mean one person can now do the work of five, creating efficiency but eroding jobs.
Ms. Sten added that automation shifts labor costs along the supply chain and can cause inefficiencies, such as processing damaged containers. She emphasized that workers welcome advances that enhance jobs but oppose those that eliminate them.
