Dockworkers Strike at U.S. Ports Could Begin Tuesday

Published On Sep 30, 2024, 5:06 AM

Dockworkers represented by the International Longshoremen’s Association are likely to strike starting Tuesday due to stalled negotiations over a new labor contract. This strike would impact East and Gulf Coast ports, halting most shipments and potentially costing the U.S. economy billions daily. The conflict centers around wages, benefits, and resistance to automation in ports. With recent successful negotiations for other unions, the longshoremen feel they have significant leverage in this situation.

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The potential strike could lead to significant disruptions in supply chains, particularly affecting transportation and logistics companies that heavily rely on port activity. Companies in the shipping, retail, and manufacturing sectors may see increased costs and delays.

In contrast, companies specializing in domestic freight and logistics that are less reliant on port activities might see a less severe impact and could potentially benefit from increased business as companies shift to alternate transport solutions during the strike.

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(Reuters) -U.S. East Coast and Gulf Coast ports began reopening on Thursday night after dockworkers and port operators reached a wage deal to settle the industry's biggest work stoppage in nearly half a century, but clearing the cargo backlog will take time. The International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) workers union and United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) port operators announced the deal and an immediate end to the strike late on Thursday. Shares in shipping companies in Asia fell heavily across Asia.

Dockworkers are returning to work on Friday after reaching a tentative agreement and Vice President Harris says, "this indicates progress towards a strong contract."

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The walkout threatened to plunge the holiday shopping season into turmoil and become an issue in next month's presidential election.