Dockworkers strike is set to begin at midnight

The International Longshoremen's Association has announced that 45,000 of its members will go on strike at midnight, shutting down ports across the East and Gulf coasts. The strike threatens to significantly disrupt the nation's supply chain, potentially leading to higher prices and delays for households and businesses. The strike could cause 36 ports, which handle roughly half of the goods shipped into and out of the US, to shutter operations. The union blames the United States Maritime Alliance for blocking the path toward an agreement before the contract deadline. The ILA is demanding higher wages and a total ban on the automation of cranes, gates, and container-moving trucks. If the strike is drawn out, it could force businesses to pay shippers for delays and cause some goods to arrive late for peak holiday shopping season. Americans could also face higher prices as retailers feel the supply squeeze. The strike could have international impacts, particularly in places like the UK, where the US is its largest trading partner. President Joe Biden has signaled that he will not intervene in the strike, despite having the power to do so under the 1947 Taft-Hartley Act. The strike will be the first by the ILA since 1977 and will impact ports from Maine to Texas.