Governor Ron DeSantis announced Thursday that members of the Florida National Guard and Florida State Guard will be deployed to ports impacted by a union strike of longshoremen seeking higher pay. The move is part of an effort to maintain order and resume operations at critical Florida ports.
“At my direction, the Florida National Guard and the Florida State Guard will be deployed to critical ports affected by the strike to maintain order and, where possible, resume operations,” DeSantis said in a post on the social media platform X.
Read: Florida Gov. DeSantis Provides Updates On Hurricane Helene Recovery Efforts From Madeira Beach
In addition to the deployment, DeSantis issued an executive order outlining steps to address disruptions caused by the strike. Measures include waiving tolls and weight restrictions for trucks in order to keep essential goods flowing, especially to areas still recovering from the impact of Hurricane Helene.
“We need to accelerate. We have no time for delays,” DeSantis said Thursday during an appearance in Anna Maria. “Biden-Harris has a responsibility to stand up for the storm victims, stand up for the people who’ve had their homes damaged or who’ve lost their homes and make sure they have what they need to get back on their feet.”
DeSantis and other Republican leaders have increasingly criticized President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, tying the effects of the strike to their administration, especially as the presidential election nears. They have also taken issue with the federal response to Hurricane Helene.
DeSantis held his event in Anna Maria while President Biden visited Taylor County, where Hurricane Helene made landfall as a Category 4 storm on September 26. When asked why he didn’t meet Biden, DeSantis said his event had been planned in advance. U.S. Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) accompanied Biden during his visit to Taylor County.
Both Biden and Harris have expressed support for the striking workers. “This strike is about fairness,” Harris said in a statement Wednesday. “Foreign-owned shipping companies have made record profits, and the longshoremen, who are essential to transporting goods across America, deserve a fair share.”
DeSantis’ executive order also authorized the Florida Highway Patrol to provide truck escorts to ensure the continuous movement of goods, fuel, and cargo.
The strike affects four of Florida’s 16 ports: JAXPORT in Jacksonville, Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Port Miami, and Port Tampa Bay. Workers at ports from Maine to Texas are also on strike after negotiations with the United States Maritime Alliance broke down.
Read: Dockworkers Strike Impacts Florida Ports, Hurricane Relief Efforts
The Florida Ports Council noted that the strike will primarily affect containerized cargo, which carries goods such as clothing, furniture, automobiles, construction and hurricane supplies, medical items, and perishable foods. Cruise operations, however, are not expected to be impacted.
The strike could impact about one-third of JAXPORT’s business, 41 percent of cargo operations at Port Everglades, and 50 percent at Port Miami.
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