ILA strike empties grocery store shelves in Mobile

MOBILE, Ala. ( WKRG ) — As the International Longshoremen’s Association Union Members began their strike early Tuesday morning , residents in the Port City rushed to the grocery store.

“When I got inside Sam’s, I quickly realized that people were in panic mode,” Katie Dixon, a local shopper, said.

Shoppers were stocking up on paper towels, toilet paper and bottled water, saying they were worried about the supply in the future due to the strike.

“I’m afraid the prices are going to go back up again,” Tanya Doan, another local shopper, said.

Port workers are on strike demanding higher wages and a ban on automation that could take their jobs. However, the impacts of the strike are being felt as others try to do their jobs.

For truck drivers like Mitchell Tussey, he has seen a challenge when it comes to the ports for at least five weeks including not knowing whether the port will be open and whether there is a major backup.

“It’s not going to get any better as it looks right now,” Tussey said.

Leaving the stores already empty shelved.

“When I saw everybody in the store grabbing it all off the shelf, I thought I better go ahead and get it today,” Doan said.

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