On the Atlantic coast of the US, port workers have started the first strike in 50 years

Ports on the Atlantic coast of the United States have stopped working as tens of thousands of port workers went on strike for the first time in 50 years, the Financial Times reports.

The strike began after the expiration of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) collective bargaining agreement, while negotiations on a new agreement covering 25,000 workers have been stalled for months due to disagreements over pay and automation, says a representative of the US Maritime Alliance (USMX), which protects the interests of employers.

The strike covered 36 ports from Maine to Texas, which account for a quarter of the country’s foreign trade cargo turnover ($3 trillion a year) and 57% of the US container turnover.

The ILA says it is ready to strike until its demands are met, although this could suspend the supply of food, pharmaceuticals, electronics and clothing, which would worsen US trade. At the same time, they promise to continue handling military cargo.

At the same time, the work of oil and gas terminals did not stop, as their employees are not members of trade unions. Oil and LNG tankers and bulk carriers for the transportation of grain and other bulk cargo usually call at other ports that are not involved in the strike.

According to JPMorgan Chase & Co. estimates, the strike will last a maximum of a week and cost the US economy $5 billion per day, while the Conference Board estimates losses at $540 million per day.

President Biden said that he would not force port workers to return to work, as provided by US law in case of a threat to national security.

USMX said it had improved its wage proposals and offered to extend the current contract in order to resume negotiations on other issues and reach a deal.

Tags: protests, USA