Photo of International Longshoremen’s Association President Harold Daggett
By Captain John Konrad (gCaptain) –
The strike paralyzing 36 American East and Gulf Coast ports has taken a dark turn. What began as a labor dispute over wages and automation has exploded into a maelstrom of public backlash, personal attacks, and even death threats against International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) President Harold Daggett.
Fueled by viral posts on TikTok and X, the hate has reached unprecedented levels, with the New York Post even publishing Daggett’s home address.
“Harold Daggett — the union boss who has vowed to ‘cripple’ the US economy if ports don’t ban automation and raise dockworkers’ wages sharply — had a Bentley convertible parked outside his sprawling mansion in New Jersey this week,” wrote Post reporter Ariel Zilber that went viral on socail media.
Sources close to the union told gCaptain early this morning that the vitrol came as a shock to union leaders who were discussing backing down and taking the United States Maritime Alliance’s (USMX) latest deal.
“We could not imagine the hate and threats of violence against him and other top ILA leaders as attempts to end the current two-day strike helping his ILA membership navigate the first coastwide work stoppage in almost half a century,” said the ILA in a message sent to gCaptain. “Harold is sickened by these attempts to his attack his professional accomplishments as a union leader, and destroy the life he has built for him and his family in over many decades of toil and hard work.”
Now, the question is: Will this pressure force Daggett to make a deal sooner, or will he double down and fight?
The ILA says Daggett is ready to continue the fight. “As a nearly 60-year veteran longshoreman of the waterfront, he understands better than most the struggles of working on the waterfront. As a decorated Navy war veteran who saw combat duty in Vietnam before he joined the ILA in 1967, Harold Daggett understands real threats and the courage it takes to accomplish a hazardous mission.”
Update: Tentative Agreement Reached to End U.S. Port Strike
Much of the public outrage stems from Daggett’s provocative statements in a now-viral YouTube interview. In the video, Daggett fiercely criticized automation, accusing foreign shipping companies of aiming to “get rid of American jobs” by replacing longshoremen with machines. He highlighted the vast wealth disparity between dock workers and shipping magnates, claiming one unnamed company awarded its executives a $4 billion Christmas bonus. Daggett also expressed willingness to “cripple” the U.S. economy to demonstrate the crucial role of ports and maritime unions in American’s way of life.
Daggett’s hard-hitting rhetoric and promise to “shut them down” if necessary has polarized opinions, fueling the firestorm on social media. While his words resonated with union members, many outside the ILA saw them as inflammatory, with critics accusing him of stoking class warfare at a time when the economy is already fragile. But does this backlash stem from genuine frustration—or could it be amplified by foreign interests lurking behind the scenes?
This strike is more than just a battle between longshoremen and shipping companies.
While socail media outlets like TikTok and mainstream media focus on his $40,000 Rolex and New Jersey “The Sopranos” style mansion his wealth pales in comparison to that of shipping magnates. On the other side of the negotiating table is USMX, a consortium of shipping titans, some of the wealthiest individuals on the planet. Among them is Captain Gianluigi Aponte, owner of Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), and the Maersk family, whose influence on global trade is unmatched. Yet, despite USMX’s American identity, foreign interests—especially China’s COSCO Shipping—exert significant control. It’s not just a labor dispute anymore; it’s a battle for control over America’s critical port infrastructure.
Meanwhile, Daggett, a nearly 60-year union veteran, is caught in the crossfire. While TikTok influencers and social media mobs paint him as a villain, there’s hardly a whisper about the extreme wealth of these shipping magnates he’s up against. The New York Post has painted Daggett as a wealthy man living in luxury, but compared to USMX’s power players, he’s David to their Goliath. Yet the public outrage, stoked by social media, is laser-focused on Daggett and the ILA.
But who’s really behind this social media firestorm? Biden recently signed a bill banning TikTok, citing concerns over Chinese Communist Party (CCP) influence on the platform’s algorithm. Could the CCP, with its direct ties to COSCO Shipping—a key player with a board seat on USMX—be tweeking the algorithm to fan the flames of anti-Daggett sentiment? It’s a possibility that shouldn’t be ignored. Are we seeing a union leader attacked not just by angry Americans but by foreign powers using algorithmic manipulation to sway public opinion? And what about X’s owner Elon Musk who, as an industrialist, relies on efficient ports? It’s highly unlikely that Musk is making algorithm changes but he is sharing tweets that are critical of the union (including retweeting one I wrote about union “touch fees” effectively killing short sea shipping)
The stakes couldn’t be higher. Death threats have poured into ILA offices, targeting Daggett and his family. Yet, despite the personal danger, Daggett has vowed not to back down. But can he continue this fight alone? One option would be to hire a high-powered crisis management firm, like the ones used by Transocean after the Deepwater Horizon disaster, to reshape the public narrative and refocus blam on the foreign oil conglomerate BP. These firms know how to deflect blame, shift public opinion, on overseas billionares. But these crisis and reputation management firms are not cheap. Would the ILA, a workers’ union, be willing—or able—to spend millions on such a campaign?
Meanwhile, USMX and its foreign-controlled members have the money and influence to ride out this storm? What if Daggett decides not to easy up but double down on calling out ship owners?
Also Read: Port Strike: Trump and Biden Blame Shipowners While Harris Remains Silent
Will Daggett’s supporters applaud him for standing up to billionaires, or will social media critics become even more enraged by his aggressive tone? The backlash has only intensified, but it’s worth noting that despite public outrage, President Biden is still supporting Daggett. And this isn’t the first time shipowners have faced such hostility. In 2022, amid the port congestion crisis, President Biden famously expressed a desire to hit containership owners after they reaped windfall profits while Americans bore the brunt of supply chain disruptions.
“There are nine — nine major ocean line shipping companies that ship from Asia to the United States. Nine. They form three consortia. These companies have raised their prices by as much as 1,000 percent,” said Biden in June 2022.
So, the question remains: Will Daggett cave under the pressure and relent on their demands, or will he stand his ground against his ultra-wealthy foreign adversaries?
Also Read: Teamsters Warn Biden To ‘Stay the F*ck Out of This Fight’
What if this strike starts moving Presidential poll numbers? Would China consider tweeking the TikTok algorith to influence the election? Extending the strike could provide Trump with compelling campaign rhetoric as the economy slows before the election. Conversely, it might hypothetically pressure USMX to accept an unfavorable deal, benefiting ILA union members and potentially giving Kamala Harris a significant political victory.
And as the strike drags on, will Congress and the intelligence services look to see if and how China could be influencing the negotiations?
Then there is the biggest question of all: How will the populist anger surrounding this strike affect the coming presidential election?
What outside forces—including Russia and China—might seek to leverage the port strike against one candidate or the other?
Ultimately, this isn’t just about dockworkers—it’s about the future of America’s ports, its supply chains, and national security. It raises questions about whether foreign powers are quietly shape U.S. policies from behind the scenes.
Daggett’s alleged “toxic masculinity,” numerous criminal investigations, and alleged ties to mafia crime families make him an easy target for many Americans’ ire. However, the truth is that neither side in this debate are unsullied angels.
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