Battle Between Dockworkers and Robots Isn’t Over: Stephen Mihm

The International Longshoremen’s Association scored a victory for its 45,000 dockworkers this month: After its three-day strike against the consortium of companies that operate ports in the eastern half of the country, it secured a significant raise for members.

But while the dockworkers won this battle, it seems more than likely that they’ll ultimately lose the war. That’s because this strike was about more than pay — it was also about an even bigger threat to workers’ livelihoods: automation.

If history is any guide, stopping the automation of American ports will be an uphill struggle. The idea that machines ...