Port employers file labor complaint against dockworkers seeking to resume negotiations as strike looms

Published On Sep 26, 2024, 2:49 PM

Port employers have filed a complaint against the dockworkers' union, accusing them of refusing to negotiate ahead of a looming strike at East and Gulf Coast ports, which is set to begin on October 1st. The complaint was filed by the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX) with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) after what they claim is the union's repeated refusal to return to bargaining. A strike would impact 36 ports that collectively handle over half of U.S. seaborne trade, potentially costing the economy $5 billion per day and affecting the import and export of crucial products including vehicles, pharmaceuticals, and agricultural goods.