45,000 US Dockworkers Strike Shuts Down Major East and Gulf Coast Ports for First Time Since 1977

Sep 30, 2024, 11:45 PM

Tens of thousands of dockworkers from the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) have gone on strike, shutting down major ports along the East and Gulf Coasts of the United States. The strike, which began at midnight on October 1, 2024, affects 36 ports from Maine to Texas and involves approximately 45,000 workers. This is the first such strike since 1977. The strike follows the expiration of the ILA's contract with the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX), with negotiations deadlocked over wage increases and the use of automation to replace workers. The USMX had offered a nearly 50% wage increase, which the union rejected. The strike is expected to cause significant disruptions to the supply chain, impacting the delivery of goods ranging from produce to auto parts and potentially reigniting inflation. The economic impact is anticipated to be severe, with Houston alone projected to lose an estimated $91 million in imports and exports. Harold Daggett, head of the ILA, stated, 'We will cripple you.' The strike could also affect holiday shopping and is a test of the Biden administration's efforts to shore up the supply chain.