Purchasing Fine Wine Futures when the Longshoremen go on strike

That’s the thing. Given the general economic pressures this won’t be a protracted strike.

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This is a very bad look for a greedy union. Automation is the future.

To keep this wine focused, luckily the wineries CONUS should have all their barrels imported from Europe for this year’s harvest.

I would think anything important stays in the warehouse until it is clear to ship. No reason to let things languish on a ship or wait weeks to unload at ports open for business.

“…as Thanksgiving approaches, many may have to find substitutes for their favorite Champagnes or Beaujolais.”
Maybe drink American wines on a totally American holiday?

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You would probably tell a different story if it was your job.

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I represented management in similar disputes for 30 years, so I obviously come at this from a certain perspective.

But one has to understand that the union owes a fiduciary duty, one of undivided loyalty, to the members of the unit. They aren’t interested (and by law aren’t allowed to be interested) in the interests of the companies and their survival, or the health of the economy generally. They are obliged to put as much economic pressure as possible on the companies to achieve the very best terms they can get and that would be ratified by the membership.

Also, it is important to remember they don’t owe any duty to to-be-hired employees. They are not in the unit. So the union isn’t really concerned about whether these jobs are there for the next generation of employees in 30 or 50 years.

The obvious accommodation will be a certain number of guaranteed positions, even if the individuals in those positions become redundant through technology. That means paying people who aren’t working. It has happened in numerous industries. The people stay and the jobs go.

I also suspect that the administration–which is publicly saying it has no intention of intervening–has told the union that at some specific point in the future it will do so, so get the best bargain you can now.

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I agree, however phone operators say hello and so does every other profession that has evolved in history and can be done by automation.

Cold

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Maybe, but it also shows these companies that automation is more important than ever. As the union a contract should identify savings that automation provides these companies and ensure a redistribution % of profits to remaining employees not replaced by automation if they were smart about it which would also benefit companies to cut the fat and reward essential workers.

The savings should go to customers, not all of it will but if they’re going to compete with different ports for the import/export business it should.

Unfortunately for the workers this is a career that is doomed to be replaced with robots and they will need to find jobs they can use these skills in.

That may be a cold take, but it is reality.

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This… redistribute profits… or another way is to commit to using automation savings to provide job/vocational training to those whose jobs are at risk.

Amazon had a similar program where warehouse workers had the option to get training for other roles that are not subject in the near term for automation. some can be as advanced as software development, or something like truck driving certification, etc.

Just insisting on “no automation” won’t work going forward…

Sounds like it’s basically over, so no need for more hot takes.

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Where ya been for the last five years?

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Overpaying for things like everyone else.

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I don’t recall if the McDonald’s workers went on strike when cashiers were replaced by touchscreens

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You may have a good perspective on this–how did Turbotax etc. impact accountants?

Don’t know as I have always done my taxes myself.

This email came in this afternoon, these are huge increases that they had proposed.

Are they still planning on charging these rates? The strike has went on for less than a work week.

Not sure, my next departure was going to be around 11/1, so I was just watching from a distance.

I will ask my sales rep for a quote and let you know.

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