Port workers strike starts across the East and Gulf Coasts

Nearly 50,000 members of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) are on strike Tuesday against the nation’s East and Gulf Coast ports, according to the Associated Press, choking off the flow of many of the nation’s imports and exports in what could become America’s most disruptive work stoppage in decades.

Nearly 50,000 members of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) are on strike Tuesday against the nation’s East and Gulf Coast ports, choking off the flow of many of the nation’s imports and exports in what could become America’s most disruptive work stoppage in decades. The strike, which was confirmed by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey as well as the Port of Virginia, began at midnight. There appears to be a wide gap between the union’s demands and the offer of the United States Maritime Alliance, which uses the acronym USMX. The maritime alliance represents the major shipping lines, all of which are foreign owned; as well as terminal operators and port authorities. The strike will stop the flow of a wide variety of goods over the docks of almost all cargo ports from Maine to Texas. This includes everything from bananas to European beer, wine and liquor, along with furniture, clothing, household goods and European autos, as well as parts needed to keep US factories operating and American workers in those plants on the job. It could also stop US exports now flowing through those ports, hurting sales for American companies. Depending on the length of the strike, it could result in shortages of consumer and industrial goods, which could then lead to price hikes. It could also mark a setback to the economy, which has shown signs of recovery from pandemic-induced supply chain disruptions that resulted in a spike in inflation. The ports involved include the Port of New York and New Jersey, the nation’s third-largest port by volume of cargo handled. It also includes ports with other specialties. Port Wilmington in Delaware describes itself as the nation’s leading banana port, bringing in a large share of America’s favorite fruit. According to the American Farm Bureau, 1.2 million metric tons of bananas come in through the struck ports, representing about one quarter of the nation’s bananas.