The first strike by the port workers’ union in nearly 50 years reportedly occurred shortly after midnight, when tens of thousands of longshoremen at ports along the East Coast and Gulf of Mexico went on strike.
After the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) and the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) were unable to reach an agreement by the midnight deadline, workers from Maine to Texas walked off the job.
The USMX announced on Monday evening that it had “traded counteroffers related to wages” with the ILA, marking the first indication of movement in several months.
The union has requested a complete prohibition of the automation of cranes, gates, and container-moving vehicles, in addition to wage increases.
In June, negotiations between the ILA and the USMX regarding an automated entrance at a port in Mobile, Alabama, had been unsuccessful.
In addition, the USMX stated that it had requested that the union extend the agreement that had expired on October 1.
In anticipation of the strike, numerous retailers either front-loaded shipments or diverted cargo through the West Coast.
However, businesses are preparing for a strike with no clear end.
The economic impact of the strike is estimated to be between $540 million and $5 billion per day, according to The Conference Board, a business research nonprofit.
Analysts at JPMorgan have also estimated the cost to be as high as $5 billion per day.
“The U.S. government should stay the f‑‑k out of this fight and allow union workers to withhold their labor for the wages and benefits they have earned.” the Teamsters President Sean O’Brien said.
“Any workers—on the road, in the ports, in the air—should be able to fight for a better life free of government interference. Corporations for too long have been able to rely on political puppets to help them strip working people of their inherent leverage,” he added.
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