Talks over a new union contract between the ILA and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) broke down on Monday and workers were expected to begin striking at 12.01 am ET on Tuesday with 36 ports along the east and Gulf coasts affected, The Guardian reported. Workers began picketing at the port of Philadelphia shortly after midnight, the Associated Press reported, walking in a circle at a rail crossing outside the port and chanting, “No work without a fair contract.
” The port of Virginia also confirmed the work stoppage. The strike – the first by port workers strike on the US East coast since 1977 – threatens to shut down ports from Maine to Texas, mangling supply chains and straining the US economy. Negotiators on both sides of the table have accused the other of refusing to bargain.
The ILA has argued that USMX, which represents 40 ocean terminals and port operators, has “low-balled” offers on wage raises for workers and accused it of violating the previous contract by introducing automation at several US ports. It is estimated the strike will cost the economy as much as $5bn a day. The union has said it will still handle military cargo, and that passenger cruise ships will be unaffected.
USMX filed an unfair labor practice charge against the union with the National Labor Relations Board on Wednesday, alleging the union was refusing to negotiate. Ahead of the strike on Monday, USMX said they and the union had exchanged new offers on wages. The union countere.