WASHINGTON, Sept 29 (Askume) – The International Longshoremen’s Association union said on Sunday that strikes at ports on the U.S. East Coast and the Gulf of Mexico would begin on Tuesday, signaling the potential for delays and disruptions to supply chains.
“The American Maritime Alliance … refuses to address a half-century of wage cuts,” the alliance said in a statement. The United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) represents employers in the terminal industry on the East and Gulf Coasts.
USMX had no immediate comment.
If union members strike at ports from Maine to Texas, it would be the ILA’s first coast-to-coast strike since 1977, affecting ports handling nearly half of the nation’s shipping.
There were no talks on Sunday and no negotiations were planned before Monday’s midnight deadline, a source said. The union had previously said the strike would not affect military cargo shipments or cruise ship traffic.
White House spokeswoman Robin Patterson said Sunday night that senior officials were in contact with USMX representatives over the weekend and “urged them to reach a fair and prompt agreement that reflects the success of both companies.” She said officials also sent the same message to the International Law Association.
Earlier on Sunday, President Joe Biden said he would threaten to furlough longshoremen if they didn’t win a new contract by an Oct. 1 deadline.There will be no intervention to stop the strike .
He told reporters, “This is collective bargaining. I don’t believe in the Taft-Hartley Act.” 80-day cooling-off period.
Askume first reported on September 17, citing White House officials, that Biden did not intend to invoke the Taft-Hartley clause.
The strike could halt the flow of everything from food to motor vehicles at major ports – a dispute that could threaten jobs and raise inflation just weeks before the US presidential election.
The Business Roundtable, which represents major US business leaders, said it was “deeply concerned about potential attacks on East Coast and Gulf Coast ports.”
The group warned that labor strikes could cost the U.S. economy billions of dollars a day, “impacting American businesses, workers, and consumers across the country. We call on both parties to reach an agreement before Monday night’s deadline.”
For months, the union of container ship operator Maersk (MAERSKb.CO) has threatened to shut down the 36 ports it operates under.
The dispute has raised concerns among businesses that rely on ocean freight to import and export large volumes of goods.
The USMX employers group accused the ILA of refusing to negotiate.
