Looming dockworkers strike could cripple supply chain

Some of the busiest ports in the country could be all but shut down come Tuesday, Oct. 1, as dockworkers up and down the U.S.’ Atlantic and Gulf Coasts prepare to strike. A shutdown could cause shortages and potentially price increases throughout the country right as the holiday shopping season gears up.

The International Longshoremen’s Association is calling for significantly higher wages and a total ban on automation. If they can’t come to an agreement with the United States Maritime Alliance by the end of Monday, Sept. 30, some 85,000 workers are prepared to walk off the job.

An automation ban would impact cranes, gates and container-moving trucks that are used in the loading or unloading of freight at 36 ports. Those ports handle about half of all U.S. cargo from ships.

The ILA and the Maritime Alliance last held negotiation talks in June, but nothing was accomplished then or has been since.

One analysis by J.P. Morgan said a strike would cost the U.S. economy up to $5 billion per day.

President Joe Biden could use a federal labor law to force the longshoremen back to work, but on Sunday, Sept. 29, he said he was not considering that. However, the White House and top government officials have urged the ILA and the Maritime Alliance to come to an agreement.

If the strike does happen, it’ll mark the first time in almost 50 years all the ILA ports along the East and Gulf Coasts have shut down at the same time.

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