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A National Address that Falls Short: A Critical Analysis of President Chakwera’s Speech
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The 15 January deadline for finalizing a new labor agreement between unionized dock workers at US Gulf and East Coast ports and the negotiating entity for the ports is nearing with no clear progress on a key remaining issue – automation. This week, a union vice president criticized semi-automated rail-mounted gantry cranes (RMGs) for eliminating jobs and posing national security risks in a post on the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) website. In response, the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX), the group representing the ports, defended automation as essential for port modernization and addressing land constraints. The ILA paused a three-day strike on 3 October after agreeing on a wage increase, with a commitment to negotiate the remaining issues by 15 January. Top among the remaining issues is the automation or semi-automation at the ports, which the ILA is adamantly against because they think it will take jobs typically done by humans and which the USMX says is needed for the US to remain competitive. ILA Vice President Dennis A Daggett said in his post on the union’s website that the ILA is not against progress, innovation, or modernization – “but we cannot support technology that jeopardizes jobs, threatens national security, and puts the future of the workforce at risk”. Daggett explained that in the early-2000s, employers introduced semi-automated RMGs at a greenfield terminal on the East Coast, saying the move would create thousands of jobs. “What seemed like a win for one port turned out to be the project that is becoming the model for automation that could potentially chip away at many jobs at almost every other terminal along the East and Gulf coasts,” Daggett said. Daggett said 95% of work performed by RMGs is fully automated. “From the moment a container is dropped off by a shuttle carrier, the RMG operates on its own – lifting, stacking, and moving containers, including gantry and hoisting, without any human intervention,” Daggett said. “This includes the auto-stacking of containers in the container stack, which is also fully automated. Only in the last six feet of the container’s journey on the landside, when it is placed on a truck chassis, does an operator step in. But how long until employers automate those final six feet as well?” The USMX, in a response, said modernization and investment in new technology are core priorities required to successfully bargain a new master contract with the ILA – they are essential to building a sustainable and greener future for the US maritime industry. “Port operations must evolve, and embracing modern technology is critical to this evolution,” the USMX said. “It means improving performance to move more cargo more efficiently through existing facilities – advancements that are crucial for US workers, consumers, and companies,” the USMX said. “Due to the lack of available new land in most ports, the only way for US East and Gulf Coast ports to handle more volume is to densify terminals – enabling the movement of more cargo through their existing footprints. It has been proven this can be accomplished while delivering benefits to both USMX members and to the ILA.” The USMX stressed that it is not, nor has it ever been, seeking to eliminate jobs, but to simply implement and maintain the use of equipment and technology already allowed under the current contract agreements and already widely in use, including at some USMX ports. As an example, the USMX pointed to a terminal where modern crane technology was implemented more than a decade ago, which was previously limited to a 775,000-container capacity using traditional equipment. That same terminal nearly doubled its volume after incorporating the use of modern rail-mounted gantry cranes into its daily operations. “The added capacity delivered an equal increase in hours worked, leading to more union jobs, as the terminal went from employing approximately 600 workers a day to nearly 1,200,” the USMX said. “Moving more containers through the existing terminal footprints also means higher wages from the increased cargo, bringing in more money for volume/tonnage bonuses.” Container ships and costs for shipping containers are relevant to the chemical industry because while most chemicals are liquids and are shipped in tankers, container ships transport polymers, such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), are shipped in pellets. They also transport liquid chemicals in isotanks. No negotiations are currently underway with just about five weeks left before the deadline. Source: ICIS by Adam Yanelli,Assistant coach Dan Soper says Ulster must "get up and go again" after the 61-21 hammering by holders Toulouse in their opening Investec Champions Cup game. Richie Murphy's youthful and injury-hit side shipped nine tries at the Stade Ernest-Wallon and have now won just two of their past 11 games in the Champions Cup. They are hoping to bounce back at home to Bordeaux on Saturday and Soper says their return to training has been "tough" following the heavy defeat. "We were off yesterday so everyone has gathered their thoughts and there were a few home truths today," he said. "Toulouse are a hell of a team and it was a tough ask, but there were some areas where we let ourselves down and we are disappointed with that." Soper believes the quick turnaround after playing on Sunday means that Ulster can ill afford to dwell on the loss, but they must also try and rectify some mistakes made in France. It is another difficult test at Kingspan Stadium on Saturday as they welcome a Bordeaux side second in France's Top 14. "We've been out on the pitch today so you can't dwell too much on things you have to get up and go again," he added. "It's a young group and they're learning all the time, but we need to start putting in performances." Soper does hope that despite a lengthy injury list, Ulster can respond to the emphatic Toulouse defeat and put on a performance to be proud of on home soil. "There's always pressure and expectation on Ulster playing at home this time of year, but that's a privilege of what we do, and we will be turning up on Saturday expecting to perform and get a result," he said. "Whatever structure there has been in Europe, a home game has usually been a must-win if you think you have a chance of progressing." Bordeaux opened their European campaign with an impressive 42-28 win over Leicester on Sunday and Soper is wary of the threats they pose. "This might sound ridiculous given Toulouse have Antoine Dupont but in transition, they are even more dangerous, some of their broken-field attack is frighteningly good," he explained. "They're another top calibre side so limiting their opportunities to do their thing will be important." Soper also believes Ulster need to have a greater emphasis on their display this week and not get fixated on what Bordeaux will do. "As a coaching group I don't know how long we spent saying to the players 'this is what Toulouse do and this is what to be wary of' instead of saying 'this is us'. "We've looked at Bordeaux, but we're trying to get the focus on us and what we didn't do well enough and what we are in control of doing better."
University of Maine soccer forward Abby Kraemer became the school’s first All-American a year ago and this season became the first America East player in 25 years to receive a second All-American berth. Kraemer, an All-American second team pick last year, was chosen to the third team this season. She was one of just two players from a New England school to be chosen an All-American along with University of Connecticut junior forward Chioma Okafor, who was also a third team pick. There are four All-American teams. Kraemer, a native of Waterloo, Ontario, led the Black Bears in scoring with seven goals and five assists for 19 points. The Black Bears won the America East tournament for the second straight year and earned a berth to the NCAA tournament. She had three game-winning goals and was named to the All-America East first team and to the All-Tournament team. She had a goal and an assist in the 3-0 victory over New Hampshire in the America East championship game. She was also named to the All-Atlantic Region second team along with teammates Myla Schneider and Kristina Kelly. Lara Kirkby was a third team pick. Kraemer concluded her UMaine career with 31 goals and 12 assists for 74 points and 10 of her goals were game-winners. The All-Americans will be recognized at the United Soccer Coaches All-America ceremony and reception on Jan. 11 in Chicago in conjunction with the United Soccer Coaches convention. More articles from the BDNNone