A strike at ports along the U.S. East Coast and Gulf of Mexico began on Tuesday, October 1, according to the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA). The union claims the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) has ignored wage issues for decades.
It is the first coast-wide ILA strike since 1977, affecting ports from Maine to Texas, which handle about half of the nation’s ocean shipping. The union has stated that military cargo and cruise ship traffic will not be impacted.
Negotiations stalled and no talks were planned before the Monday midnight deadline. President Joe Biden has indicated he will not intervene, emphasizing the importance of collective bargaining.
The Business Roundtable, a nonprofit lobbyist association based in Washington, D.C. whose members are chief executive officers of major United States companies, has expressed concern, advising that a strike could cost the U.S. economy billions of dollars daily and disrupt supply chains. The union has threatened to shut down 36 ports if wage increases and putting a stop to terminal automation projects are not agreed upon.