At least 45 container ships were docked outside US ports on Thursday, as a massive strike by dockworkers from Maine to Texas entered its third day.
By late Wednesday, long queues of container ships had formed at East Coast and Gulf Coast ports, unable to unload cargo due to striking dockworkers, according to Everstream Analytics, compared with only three queues the Sunday before the strike.
Everstream’s Gene Santoro said backups could double by the end of the week if the strike continues.
He said the resulting impasse could take weeks or months to resolve.
“It seems that many have decided to wait in the hope of a quick resolution to the strike action, rather than take a proactive decision,” Santoro said in a video presentation seen by Reuters.
Nearly 45,000 port workers are demanding higher wages and protection from automation in their next contract.
Analysts warn that a strike may occur The economy loses billions of dollars every day As food, automobile, pharmaceutical and other goods shipment stall.
President Joe Biden – who has Support issued for port workers – Indicated that the contract is moving forward, although he did not provide details.
“I think we are making progress,” Biden said Thursday. “We’ll find out soon enough.”
There were no talks scheduled Thursday between the International Longshoremen’s Association and employers, although port owners issued a statement late Wednesday indicating they were open to new talks.
“Reaching an agreement will require negotiations,” the United States Maritime Alliance said late Wednesday. “We may not agree to prior conditions to return to bargaining, but we remain committed to bargaining in good faith to address the demands of the ILA and the concerns of the USMX.”
ILA started strikes The first major walkout since 1977 – on Tuesday.
Harold Daggett – union boss who led the strike Who collected $728,000 in compensation Last year from the ILA – the union was said to be promising a $5 per hour raise for each year of the six-year contract and a moratorium on automation.
Retailers, auto suppliers and product importers had expected Biden to invoke the federal Taft-Hartley Act, which allows U.S. presidents to force employees to return to work for an 80-day cooling-off period during labor disputes. Is.
But those hopes were dashed when Biden said Monday that he does not “confidence” in Taft-Hartley.
The National Retail Federation – along with about 300 other trade unions – on Wednesday called on the Biden administration to take a tough stance on strikes and force employees back to work.
Daggett has indicated that the ILA is in it for the long term.
“We are prepared to fight as long as necessary, to be on strike at any time, to get our ILA members raises and protections against automation,” Daggett said Tuesday.
Strike occurs immediately after Hurricane Helen wreaked havoc across southeastern states and ahead of the holiday shopping season — and that could further disrupt the nation’s shaken supply chain.
According to Morgan Stanley, about half of America’s imports move through water.
Although the strike will not immediately affect prices, it could eventually lead to port congestion Food shortage and rising prices Similar to the economic turmoil seen during the pandemic.
“From a consumer standpoint, if the strike lasts a couple of weeks, you’ll start to see an impact on the grocery sector,” Larry Gross, a supply chain analyst and president of Gross Transportation Consulting, told The Post.
Some shoppers reported long lines at gas stations empty shelves in supermarket Anxious consumers stocked up in fear of shortages.
with post wires
