"The life of a longshoreman can be a difficult one, with long and labor-intensive hours spent on the waterfront. Yet, many of them say the work itself is not the most difficult part. Especially in recent months, as unpredictable tariff policies have impacted the number of ships entering U.S. ports, uncertainty is plaguing our ports and the workers who make domestic and global trade possible. "We're very fortunate to have the jobs we do and what they pay and the benefits we have, but at the same time, the unknown is what keeps us from enjoying those benefits," says Kesa Sten, a terminal chief at the Port of Seattle and president of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 52."
"Within a few weeks of his inauguration, Trump made tariffs a cornerstone of his international policy agenda-but these are not the low, consistent tariffs of past administrations. Broadly implemented and ever evolving, the new administration's tariff policy has led foreign leaders to scramble for deals and has led importers to wonder: Are these high fees here to stay? At the ports, this unpredictability has led to inconsistent numbers of ships coming in: busy periods as importers race to get their goods into the country before new tariffs take effect and much slower days while they "wait and see.""
Cargo moves constantly at the Port of Seattle, with longshoremen loading and unloading diverse commodities bound for global markets. Longshore work involves long, labor-intensive hours on the waterfront. Recent unpredictable tariff policies have reduced and destabilized ship arrivals, producing inconsistent port activity and spikes when importers rush ahead of tariffs. Average import volumes at the Port of Seattle have declined compared with last year, though periodic surges match or exceed prior averages. The resulting uncertainty affects workers' ability to enjoy job benefits despite steady pay and benefits, and leaves dispatchers noting sudden busy weeks.
Read at Fast Company
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