From midnight on October 1st to October 3rd, 2024, we stood together on the picket lines, united in a fight for fairness, justice, and the future of our jobs. Our demands were simple yet vital: no automation in our contract and fair wages for the hard work that keeps our ports—and our economy—running smoothly.
This strike was about more than just securing better terms in a contract. It was a stand for the generations of workers who have dedicated their lives to this industry. It was a stand against corporate giants profiting from our labor while seeking to replace our jobs with automation. And most importantly, it was a stand for the future of our families and communities.
We were not alone in this fight. Among the many who stood by us was Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee, whose powerful words echoed the sentiments of thousands of workers across the Gulf Coast and beyond:
“I’m Christian Menefee. I’m the county attorney. I’m out here in solidarity with our ILA brothers and sisters. The longshoremen make our country run. They make our economy run. For far too long, carriers have been making billions and billions of dollars on the backs of the good men and women who do the work out here. So when they ask for pay raises, when they ask to be protected from automation so that they can feed their families, we should be giving them that, because it’s not a gift. It is something that they’ve earned generation after generation of making our economy work. So I’m out here with the ILA. I fully support them. I got family with ILA Local 28 right here in Houston, and I’m gonna support them from Maine down to Texas. Give them what they’re due.”
We were proud to have leaders like Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee stand with us in our fight.
To all who stood with us during this time: Thank you. Your solidarity, your voices, and your strength made all the difference.
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