MSNBC has an excellent article describing the core issues in the Dock Workers' strike hitting the West Coast.

A central issue is whether new tech jobs in the ports are unionized or not:

...“What we’re talking about for the most part is the ability to implement technology and have a process in place to have technology brought in.”
       Union officials say the technology issue is a fig leaf for the shippers to outsource new work to non-union workers. “This is not about technology — this is about busting the union,” said Steve Stallone, a spokesman for the union.

An interesting driver is this tidbit on biz volume coming into the west coast:

... But with trans-Pacific trade expected to double over the next 10 years, and most West Coast ports unable to expand physically, more automation will be needed so ships can minimize the amount of time spent in port.