Led by Business Writer Tom Krisher, the AP capitalized on resourceful planning, source development, deep reporting, speed of filing and coordination across bureaus and departments to stay ahead of competitors on the dockworkers’ strike.
As the potentially devastating strike neared, Krisher, a longtime Detroit auto writer with little background covering ports, quickly built sources. On the night the strike was to begin if negotiations failed, Vejpongsa, a video journalist, visited the Port of Philadelphia and informed Krisher that strikers were readying picket signs — allowing the AP to report, 20 minutes before the 12:01 a.m. deadline, that the talks had failed, and the strike would begin. The next day, other AP writers provided forward-looking stories about the consequences of a prolonged strike, the contentious issue of port automation and the growing confidence of organized labor. (They also debunked fears about forthcoming shortages of toilet paper and other goods.) AP Radio added voicers, and video journalists and photographers visited Port Houston to gather additional images.
Two days later, Krisher got a surprise call from a source who said the union would suspend the strike until Jan. 15, with the ports having agreed to significant wage increases. Krisher coordinated with his editor, Fred Monyak, on a NewsAlert that broke the news that the strike had been suspended, after which Krisher dictated the first writethrus by phone. Krisher worked into the night, adding details and quotes from experts who said the wage settlement meant that both sides were close on other issues and that this would likely mean the end of the strike.
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