A few days after an agreement was reached between the US longshore workers union on the West Coast (ILWU) and the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA), legislators decided they needed to act to reduce the power unions have to disrupt the US supply chain.

Four Republican senators proposed a bill titled the “Preventing Labour Union Slowdowns Act” (PLUS) of 2023. According to the Journal of Commerce (JOC), lawmakers believe the US supply chain needs to be protected. They also believe plans to modernise and automate port operations should not be hindered by union demands.

“Reducing slowdowns by eliminating unfair labour practices imposed by unions is best for maritime workers and their livelihoods while allowing companies to compete in a modern marketplace,” said Idaho Senator Mike Crapo.

Proposed in June, the bill calls for adding two types of “unfair labour practices.” The first would ban workers from carrying out disruptive practices that slow down work while a bargaining agreement is in effect.

The second would prohibit acts that hinder modernisation efforts at ports, “which thereby interferes with or otherwise impedes economic activity in relation to the national supply chain ... [or] ... interfere with or otherwise impede the servicing of any automated vessel operating without a crew.”

Unions that violate the new rules “would be subject to paying damages in an amount equal to two times the amount of damage sustained by their labour actions,” A CNBC report highlighted.

Longshore workers on the US West Coast reverted to several actions last month at the ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach, Seattle and Tacoma, including not showing up at work, red-tagging equipment, and not fulfilling requests for personnel. This significantly impacted operations at ports and disrupted trucking activity and freight rail transport.