Grey Havoc

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A dockworkers' strike is set to shut down ports across much of the US indefinitely, threatening significant trade and economic disruption ahead of the presidential election and the busy holiday shopping season.

Tens of thousands of members of the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) are preparing to walk out on Tuesday at 14 major ports along the east and gulf coasts, halting container traffic from Maine to Texas.

Barring a last-minute intervention, the action will mark the first shutdown in almost 50 years.

President Joe Biden has the power to suspend the strike for 80 days for further negotiations, but the White House has said he is not planning to act.
 
From today's Irish Edition of The Times:
Queuing ships put pressure on owners to end US port strike

Tom Howard


Port owners in the US are under government pressure to end the biggest dockworkers strike in almost half a century, which has left dozens of container ships waiting outside big ports.

The walkout by thousands of members of the International Longshoremen's Association was due to enter its fourth day with a pay deal with the United States Maritime Alliance, the alliance of container carriers, port employees and associations, yet to be struck.

There are 54 ships waiting outside big ports on the east and gulf coasts,, data from Everstream Analytics shows, up from three on Sunday. Ports in Savannah, Georgia, New York and Norfolk, Virginia are among the worst hit.

It is the union's first significant stoppage since 1977 and has hit 36 ports. Businesses have warned that the industrial action could bring shortages of everything from bananas to car parts and clothing. Analysts at JP Morgan have estimated that the strike could cost the economy up to $5 billion a day.

The union's 45,000 members have walked out in a pay row. Employers have offered a 50 per cent wage increase for a new six-year agreement. The union wants a $5-per-hour increase in wages plus a guarantee of restrictions on the use of automation at ports which they say* threatens jobs.

The employers have signaled that they are open to new talks. "We cannot agree to preconditions to return to bargaining — but we remain committed to bargaining in good faith."
*In the original text it was 'he says', but obviously that was an editing snafu.

Another development that occurred after The Times had gone to press:
 
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