US dockworkers begin strike month before election

Tens of thousands of workers at major ports on the US East and Gulf Coasts went on strike Tuesday in an action that could drag down the world’s largest economy just over a month before the presidential election.

The shutdown, the first strike by the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) in almost 50 years, affects 36 ports from Maine to Texas, which handle an array of goods from food to electronics.

About 45,000 workers are on strike, according to the ILA.

After weeks of stalled talks, the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX), which represents shipping companies and terminal operators, had late Monday expressed some hope of a deal. But there was no agreement before the midnight deadline.

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In Elizabeth, New Jersey, trucks passing by honked their horns in support of about 200 striking workers carrying American flags and signs blasting port automation as a job killer.

“Profits over people is unacceptable,” one sign read.

A possible stoppage had been telegraphed for months, with the odds rising in recent weeks as the September 30 contract deadline loomed.

Analysts caution that a lengthy strike could pose a major headwind to the US economy, leading to shortages of some items and lifting costs at a time when inflation has been moderating.

The White House said President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were “closely monitoring” the strike, with both briefed on government assessments that “impacts on consumers are expected to be limited at this time,” according to a statement.

Biden was briefed late Tuesday on the situation and again called for a “strong and fair offer” to the longshoremen, the White House said, singling out “foreign-owned ocean carriers” represented by USMX.

“These foreign companies have seen record profits… and the president believes it is time they present an offer that reflects ILA workers’ invaluable contribution to their success,” it said.

Under the Taft-Hartley Act, Biden has the authority to order the parties to resume talks for an 80-day “cooling off” period, with union members going back to work during that time.

But Biden has ruled out such a move, citing respect for collective bargaining rights.

The National Retail Federation called on Biden to “immediately” restore operations, including by invoking Taft-Hartley, saying the strike “will have devastating consequences for American workers, their families and local communities.”

And former president Donald Trump, who is seeking to take back the Oval Office, blamed Biden for the crisis, saying in Milwaukee: “He should have worked out a deal.”