In response to the ongoing International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) strike, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has now reportedly deployed the National Guard to ports throughout the state in an effort to “resume operations” to the extent feasible.
At a media briefing in Manatee County on Thursday, the Republican governor disclosed the strategy after discussing the state’s recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene’s devastation of the southeastern United States last week.
36 U.S. ports, spanning from Maine to Texas, were affected by the strike of over 45,000 dockworkers in the ILA on Tuesday, who were seeking increased pay and other job security guarantees.
DeSantis informed reporters that the Florida National Guard and State Guard will be dispatched to locations in the state that have been affected by the strikes in order to sustain order and, if feasible, resume operations.
“I would say that this is something that would have significant impacts on the nation’s economy anyways, but to have this happen in a way that could negatively impact people that are reeling from a category 4 hurricane—that is just simply unacceptable,” the Governor said.
“We’re getting pushback already, and we’re hearing from the folks recently that they’re having trouble getting products they need because of the port strike,”
Additionally, DeSantis waived tool fees and size and weight restrictions for commercial vehicles traveling through Florida and directed the state’s Highway Patrol to oversee traffic from the state’s ports.
DeSantis also accused President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris of failing to take all necessary measures to resolve the strike.
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