Union Boss Who Vowed to “Cripple” U.S. Owns Yacht, Bentley, Earns Nearly $1M, Co-Defendant Found Dead in RICO Case

Americans are being urged to stock up on essentials like food and gas due to a looming strike by the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA).

The strike, which threatens to paralyze major U.S. ports, could have severe consequences for the supply chain and the economy. With tens of thousands of longshoremen potentially walking off the job, the strike could disrupt the delivery of goods across the nation.

The strike, set to begin at midnight on October 1, 2024, could leave shelves empty and further strain an economy already teetering due to inflation and recession concerns.

U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene has warned about the potential ramifications, noting that the U.S. now faces a $36 billion food trade deficit for the first time in its history. She emphasized that a prolonged strike could lead to a significant crisis as the holiday season approaches.

The potential strike comes at a time when the ILA is demanding a 70% pay increase for its members. Union leadership, headed by Harold Daggett, has made it clear that they are willing to “cripple” the economy if necessary to achieve their goals.

Daggett, who has led the ILA since 2011, has a long history of tough negotiations and is no stranger to controversy. He recently endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for the 2024 presidential race, raising eyebrows about the timing of the strike in an election year.

The ILA strike could be the most significant labor disruption at U.S. ports since 1977. East Coast and Gulf Coast ports, which handle nearly half of all U.S. imports, would be shut down if the strike proceeds.

In total, 50,000 union longshoremen are expected to walk off the job, leaving billions of dollars in trade stuck at sea.

According to CNBC, the union’s demands include a $5 hourly wage increase each year for six years, control over all container royalties, and guarantees against automation, which they fear will lead to job losses in the future.

Port ownership, represented by the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX), offered a near 50% wage increase over six years, but that proposal was rejected.

Truckers, who play a crucial role in transporting goods from ports to retail locations, have expressed concern about the strike.

With the economy already facing challenges, including high inflation, truckers fear the strike will exacerbate supply shortages and push prices higher for consumers.

One trucker noted that the timing of the strike couldn’t be worse, given the nation’s current economic woes.

Retailers have been bracing for the potential strike by trying to stock up on inventory, but experts warn that any prolonged shutdown of the ports will lead to shortages, especially of imported goods.

The ILA ports handle 68% of U.S. containerized exports and 56% of containerized imports. Any disruption will have ripple effects across industries, from manufacturing to retail.

Harold Daggett, the 78-year-old president of the ILA, has been a staunch advocate for blue-collar workers during his long career.

Daggett’s leadership has come under scrutiny in the past due to accusations of ties to organized crime, though he has consistently denied any wrongdoing and has been acquitted of racketeering charges.

In a fiery interview in September, Daggett did not mince words when discussing the potential strike. He warned that the U.S. economy would feel the pain if the ILA’s demands were not met.

“I’ll cripple you, and you have no idea what that means,” he said in a dramatic gesture, referring to the powerful influence the union holds over the nation’s port system.

Daggett’s rise to power has been marked by a blend of controversy and loyalty from his union members. He comes from a long line of longshoremen and has been involved in the union for 57 years.

Elon Musk may have just helped the world to understand better who Mr. Daggett is with one simple retweet of Max Meyer, editor of Arena Magazine, who tweeted:

Harold Daggett, the ILA boss who pledged to “cripple” the United States, owns a 76-foot yacht, a Bentley, and gets paid over $900,000.

He was acquitted on RICO charges after the main witness against him, mobster Lawrence Ricci, was found decomposing in a car trunk in New Jersey.

Meyer’s tweet included two screenshots with stunning information about the man the US government has accused of being tied to the mafia.

Blue collar credentials

Mr Daggett is a figure whose long union career has been shrouded in controversy. A third
generation ILA member, the longshoreman has worked for the union for 57 years, becoming the
international president in July 2011.

Despite his eminent blue-collar credentials, the union baron earned $728,000 last year from the
ILA, plus another $173,000 as president emeritus of a local union branch, Politico reported.
He previously owned a 76-foot yacht, the Obsession, and has been spotted by his members riding
in a Bentley, according to The New York Times.

The Justice Department, which has reportedly lost two cases against Mr Daggett, has accused him
of being an “associate” of the Genovese crime family——one of the infamous “five families” of the US Mafia.

In another screenshot, Meyer included the following information on the ILA boss:

Charged with racketeering in 2005, Mr Daggett, took the witness stand and portrayed himself as a mob
target, despite evidence against him from a turncoat Mafia enforcer saying he was under the mob’s control,
the New York Times reported.

During that trial, one of Mr Daggett’s co-defendants, a renowned mobster named Lawrence Ricci,
disappeared. His decomposing body was found in the trunk of a car outside a New Jersey diner several
weeks later, with the killing still unsolved.

Despite his union serving as a historic symbol of the grip of organised crime on union members, as
depicted in the 1954 film “On the Waterfront’, Mr Daggett was acquitted in both cases.
The union leader has previously criticised the Waterfront Commission, set up to combat Mafia control of
the port, calling the allegations of mob influence “total bulls—“, and a “dark, ugly attack on Italian Americans.”

Here is the tweet:

Wow https://t.co/ryimhzyj0b

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 1, 2024

As the strike deadline approaches, businesses and consumers alike are bracing for the fallout. The ILA’s decision to strike during an election year adds another layer of complexity to an already tense situation.

With supply chains still recovering from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, any additional disruptions could have far-reaching consequences.

For now, Americans are being advised to prepare for potential shortages and price increases. If the ILA follows through on its threat, the nation’s ports will come to a standstill, choking off the flow of goods just as the holiday season kicks into gear.