Commerce Secretary Biden-Harris says he's staying out of a possible port workers strike
Commerce Secretary, Gina M. Raimondo said he's not overly focused on the prospect of a strike, despite the cost to the economy.
Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said Monday on CNBC's “Squawk Box” that she is “not particularly involved” in a potential strike by port workers that some experts worry could cost the U.S. economy billions a day.
“This is the first time since the 1970s that you're going to see strikes all up and down the Gulf ports, not just the East Coast,” said CNBC host Becky Quick. “What does this mean for commerce in this country? What does it mean for business if we go on this strike? And what do you know about that?”
“I would say, look, it's no secret that depending on how long it lasts, it could be incredibly disruptive to commerce,” Raimondo, who attended as a surrogate for Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign, responded.
He added that he hoped the parties would come together to come to an agreement because the effects on the economy could be “very disruptive” if not.
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Secretary Gina M. Raimondo's job responsibilities include “improving our economic and national security.” (Fox Business Digital)
Follow up quickly by asking what the impact will be if the strike lasts more than a week
“I wasn't too focused on that. I'll refer you to the White House or the Secretary of Transportation,” Raimondo responded.
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When Quick pressed again on the potential impact of the strike, Raimondo was evasive and said he did not want to violate the Hatch Act because he was in his personal capacity.
“I wasn't particularly involved,” he added.
Automobiles wait to be loaded onto ships at the Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal on July 23, 2023, in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Gary Hershorn/Getty Images)
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Unionized dockworkers International Longshoremen's AssociationThe strike, which represents 45,000 members at East Coast and Gulf Coast ports, could begin Oct. 1 if an agreement is not reached by the end of Monday.
Labor strikes at ports from Texas to Maine are expected to affect US farmers already dealing with an economic downward spiral. An analysis by JP Morgan predicted a strike cost the US economy Up to $5 billion per day.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Commerce Department for comment and did not immediately receive a response.
Suzanne O'Halloran of Fox Business Digital contributed to this report.
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