WASHINGTON – A national poll commissioned by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce indicates that most American voters desire federal government intervention to prevent a potential dockworkers' strike set to begin on Tuesday. The poll, which surveyed 1,467 voters in September, found that 57% favor the administration taking action "to keep the ports open and operating while negotiations continue," with approximately 20% opposing federal intervention. The Chamber reported a margin of error of about 2.8% for the poll.

(Photo: The White House)
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is using these findings to urge President Joe Biden to intervene in the contract negotiations between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX). They are advocating for the invocation of the Taft-Hartley Act to avert a work stoppage at 36 terminal locations across 14 ports, stretching from Maine to Texas, scheduled to commence on Tuesday.

"Simply put, you have the authority to keep contract negotiations going while keeping the ports open," stated Chamber of Commerce President Suzanne Clark in a letter to Biden on Monday. "Taft-Hartley would provide time for both parties in negotiation to reach a deal on a new labor contract."

The Taft-Hartley Act empowers the president to seek a court injunction that can issue a back-to-work order and initiate an 80-day cooling-off period if a strike is determined to impact national security. However, the White House...