Bill Overview
Title: PLUS Act of 2022
Description: of 2022 This bill makes it unlawful for a labor organization or its agents while representing, or seeking to represent, employees engaged in maritime employment to engage in a labor slowdown at any time, including when a collective-bargaining agreement is in effect. It also prohibits a labor organization from impeding (1) modernization efforts at a port, or (2) the servicing of any automated vessel. The bill allows a party injured by such conduct to recover two times the amount of damages sustained and reasonable attorney fees and expert witness fees.
Sponsors: Sen. Risch, James E. [R-ID]
Target Audience
Population: individuals engaged in maritime employment worldwide
Estimated Size: 300000
- The bill targets maritime employment, which includes workers at seaports, mariners, and others involved in the maritime industry.
- Labor unions representing these workers will be directly affected by the bill.
- The bill makes it unlawful for labor organizations to engage in slowdowns, implicating labor relations in the maritime industry.
- The bill mentions automation and modernization at ports, thus indirectly affecting industries and workers involved in technology and port infrastructure.
- Global maritime employment includes millions of workers worldwide involved in shipping, transporting goods, and handling cargo at seaports.
Reasoning
- The PLUS Act primarily affects maritime workers and their unions by restricting slowdowns and supporting port modernization and automation. This is relevant to workers at ports, both manual labor and technical roles due to increased automation.
- The US has major ports from East to West coast which involve substantial numbers of maritime employees and unions, such as the International Longshore and Warehouse Union.
- The policy's financial scope suggests targeted initial impacts on reducing union slowdowns and supporting companies in port optimization activities.
- Given the importance of the US ports in global trade, while the direct impact may be on maritime workers, secondary effects may ripple across related industries (logistics, transportation, etc.).
Simulated Interviews
Dockworker (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've seen my fair share of strikes and slowdowns. They are usually our only bargaining chip.
- The act might take away what little power we have as workers, which might be seen as unfair.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 5 |
Port automation specialist (Seattle, WA)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- From a technological perspective, modernization is essential.
- Less slowdowns mean more consistent schedules which is beneficial for tech deployment.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Maritime attorney (New York, NY)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Seems like this ensures more stable operations, but it does complicate the legal landscape.
- It's important to balance worker rights with port efficiencies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 8 |
Retired port operations manager (Houston, TX)
Age: 62 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Modernization is needed, but we can't forget those who've built this industry.
- Automation benefits corporations more than workers.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 6 |
Logistics coordinator (Miami, FL)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Slowdowns are a logistics nightmare, so this act could be positive.
- However, labor relations could become strained, influencing my work indirectly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Union organizer (Oakland, CA)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This act undermines bargaining, a clear setback for labor rights.
- We will need to find new ways to negotiate as this restricts our options.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 2 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 2 | 5 |
Environmental consultant (Portland, OR)
Age: 36 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Modernization can align with environmental goals, potentially positive.
- Worries about the socio-economic impact on local communities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Mariner (New Orleans, LA)
Age: 43 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Affects us indirectly, rather concerned about on-shore issues.
- Automation could mean fewer jobs in the long run.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 6 |
Customs inspector (Savannah, GA)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Efficiency in port operations benefits customs work.
- Potentially less overtime if slowdowns decrease, mixed effects on income.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 7 |
Port engineer (Baltimore, MD)
Age: 27 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Automation can enhance efficiency, but jobs must adapt.
- Hope the act balances labor preservation and technological progress.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 8 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $150000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $200000000)
Year 2: $140000000 (Low: $90000000, High: $190000000)
Year 3: $130000000 (Low: $80000000, High: $180000000)
Year 5: $120000000 (Low: $70000000, High: $170000000)
Year 10: $100000000 (Low: $60000000, High: $160000000)
Year 100: $10000000 (Low: $0, High: $50000000)
Key Considerations
- Enforcement of the law and associated legal proceedings will be costly for government agencies overseeing labor relations.
- The automation push could lead to job displacement in the long term, impacting labor markets in maritime employment sectors.
- While ports may become more efficient, the resistance from labor organizations due to perceived threats to employment could lead to industrial disputes.