Port workers threaten strike on East and Gulf Coasts

The International Longshoremen’s Association said Tuesday that its roughly 85,000 members will strike on October 1 if they don’t receive what they consider to be a fair contract. The union’s six-year contract expires on Sept. 30 and its members are asking for higher wages, saying they’re struggling to pay for mortgages and car payments. The United States Maritime Alliance, which is an alliance of container carriers, marine terminal operators, and port associations along the East and Gulf Coasts, accused the union of refusing to reopen negotiations since they stalled earlier this summer.

What would be the effects of a strike? Any shutdown, even for a day, would back up shipments, the President and CEO of shipping company CMA CGM George Goldman told the Port of Los Angeles. The Port of Los Angeles reports August was the busiest non-pandemic month ever, partly due to some East Coast shipments being diverted to the West Coast because of the possible strike. Some companies are importing Halloween and Christmas supplies early for fear of the strike, Vice President of Supply Chain and Customs Policy at the National Retail Federation Jonathan Gold told Reuters.

Dig deeper: Read Christina Grube’s report in The Sift on Boeing workers beginning a strike.