Florida Governor DeSantis Deploys National Guard to Ports Amid Longshoremen Strike

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has announced plans to deploy the Florida National Guard and Florida State Guard to ports affected by the ongoing International Longshoreman’s Association strike, which is impacting four major ports in the state.

Citing concerns about disruptions to the supply chain during Hurricane Helene recovery efforts, DeSantis announced a series of measures aimed at maintaining port operations and ensuring the flow of essential goods.

Update: Tentative Agreement Reached to End U.S. Port Strike

“Disrupting the distribution of food, equipment, and supplies as the Southeast U.S. recovers from Hurricane Helene is unacceptable,” DeSantis said on the social media platform X.

The strike, which began on Tuesday, affects approximately half of all U.S. containerized imports and exports during the peak ocean shipping season and a roaring U.S. economy. The dispute centers on wage increases and protections against automation between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and United States Maritime Alliance (USMX), representing marine terminal operators—many of them foreign shipping companies—at ports along the Atlantic and Gulf Coast from Maine to Texas. 

DeSantis highlighted that Florida’s 16 deepwater ports make the state “a hub for worldwide trade and an essential link in our nation’s supply chain.” However, only four at Port Everglades, PortMiami, Port Tampa Bay, and JAXPORT, are impacted by the strike.

Key measures announced by the governor include deploying the Florida National Guard and Florida State Guard to maintain order and potentially resume operations at affected ports.

He also announced waiving tolls, fees, and size and weight restrictions for commercial vehicles through the Florida Department of Transportation, as well as utilizing the Florida Highway Patrol to manage traffic flow from seaports and provide law enforcement escorts for commercial vehicles upon request.

DeSantis framed these actions as a response to what he perceives as federal inaction, stating, “Unlike the federal government, Florida is taking decisive action to ensure that our economy continues to function and that victims of Hurricane Helene will have access to what they need to rebuild.”

We have reached out to the ILA for comment but have not received a response. 

Earlier this week, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the largest union in the United States, expressed its full solidarity with the ILA and issued a warning to the Biden Administration. “The U.S. government should stay the f**k out of this fight and allow union workers to withhold their labor for the wages and benefits they have earned.”

Read Next: Taft-Hartley: Port Strike Sparks Urgent Calls for Biden Intervention

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