WorldOctober 1, 2024

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A strike by dockworkers at 36 ports from Maine to Texas, the first in decades, could snarl supply chains and

TOM KRISHER and TASSANEE VEJPONGSA, Associated Press
Dockworker Meikysha Wright and others strike outside the Virginia International Gateway in Portsmouth, Va., Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (Billy Schuerman/The Virginian-Pilot via AP)
Dockworker Meikysha Wright and others strike outside the Virginia International Gateway in Portsmouth, Va., Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (Billy Schuerman/The Virginian-Pilot via AP)ASSOCIATED PRESS
Hundreds of longshoremen strike together outside of the Virginia International Gateway in Portsmouth, Va., Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (Billy Schuerman/The Virginian-Pilot via AP)
Hundreds of longshoremen strike together outside of the Virginia International Gateway in Portsmouth, Va., Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (Billy Schuerman/The Virginian-Pilot via AP)ASSOCIATED PRESS
Striking Philadelphia longshoremen picket outside the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal Port, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ryan Collerd)
Striking Philadelphia longshoremen picket outside the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal Port, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ryan Collerd)ASSOCIATED PRESS
The International Longshoremen’s Association flag and an American flag fly together outside the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal Port as workers prepare to strike as their contract runs out at midnight, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Ryan Collerd)
The International Longshoremen’s Association flag and an American flag fly together outside the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal Port as workers prepare to strike as their contract runs out at midnight, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Ryan Collerd)ASSOCIATED PRESS
FILE - Shipping containers are stacked in the Port of New York and New Jersey in Elizabeth, N.J., May 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)
FILE - Shipping containers are stacked in the Port of New York and New Jersey in Elizabeth, N.J., May 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)ASSOCIATED PRESS
Longshoremen strike at midnight at Bayport Terminal on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Annie Mulligan)
Longshoremen strike at midnight at Bayport Terminal on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Annie Mulligan)ASSOCIATED PRESS
Boise Butler, president of Local 1291, with an American flag on his wheelchair, pickets with his fellow longshoremen outside the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal Port in Philadelphia, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ryan Collerd)
Boise Butler, president of Local 1291, with an American flag on his wheelchair, pickets with his fellow longshoremen outside the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal Port in Philadelphia, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ryan Collerd)ASSOCIATED PRESS
Philadelphia longshoremen assembled outside the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal Port begin to strike as their contract runs out at midnight, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ryan Collerd)
Philadelphia longshoremen assembled outside the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal Port begin to strike as their contract runs out at midnight, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ryan Collerd)ASSOCIATED PRESS
Hundreds of longshoremen strike together outside of the Virginia International Gateway in Portsmouth, Va., Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (Billy Schuerman/The Virginian-Pilot via AP)
Hundreds of longshoremen strike together outside of the Virginia International Gateway in Portsmouth, Va., Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (Billy Schuerman/The Virginian-Pilot via AP)ASSOCIATED PRESS
Boise Butler, president of ILA Local 1291, speaks to the press outside the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal Port in Philadelphia, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ryan Collerd)
Boise Butler, president of ILA Local 1291, speaks to the press outside the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal Port in Philadelphia, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ryan Collerd)ASSOCIATED PRESS
Boise Butler, president of Local 1291, chants along with his fellow longshoremen outside the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal Port in Philadelphia, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ryan Collerd)
Boise Butler, president of Local 1291, chants along with his fellow longshoremen outside the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal Port in Philadelphia, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ryan Collerd)ASSOCIATED PRESS
Philadelphia longshoremen assembled outside the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal Port begin to strike as their contract runs out at midnight, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ryan Collerd)
Philadelphia longshoremen assembled outside the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal Port begin to strike as their contract runs out at midnight, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ryan Collerd)ASSOCIATED PRESS
FILE - Containers are moved at the Port of New York and New Jersey in Elizabeth, N.J., on June 30, 2021. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)
FILE - Containers are moved at the Port of New York and New Jersey in Elizabeth, N.J., on June 30, 2021. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)ASSOCIATED PRESS
Longshoremen strike at midnight at Bayport Terminal on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Annie Mulligan)
Longshoremen strike at midnight at Bayport Terminal on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Annie Mulligan)ASSOCIATED PRESS
Longshoremen strike at midnight at Bayport Terminal on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Annie Mulligan)
Longshoremen strike at midnight at Bayport Terminal on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Annie Mulligan)ASSOCIATED PRESS
Hundreds of longshoremen strike together outside of the Virginia International Gateway in Portsmouth, Va., Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (Billy Schuerman/The Virginian-Pilot via AP)
Hundreds of longshoremen strike together outside of the Virginia International Gateway in Portsmouth, Va., Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (Billy Schuerman/The Virginian-Pilot via AP)ASSOCIATED PRESS
Striking Philadelphia longshoreman picket outside the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal Port, Tuesday, Oct. 01, 2024.(AP Photo/Ryan Collerd)
Striking Philadelphia longshoreman picket outside the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal Port, Tuesday, Oct. 01, 2024.(AP Photo/Ryan Collerd)ASSOCIATED PRESS
Striking Philadelphia longshoreman picket outside the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal Port, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024.(AP Photo/Ryan Collerd)
Striking Philadelphia longshoreman picket outside the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal Port, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024.(AP Photo/Ryan Collerd)ASSOCIATED PRESS
Longshoremen strike at midnight at Bayport Terminal on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Annie Mulligan)
Longshoremen strike at midnight at Bayport Terminal on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Annie Mulligan)ASSOCIATED PRESS
Longshoremen pose for a photo while picketing at Bayport Terminal on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Annie Mulligan)
Longshoremen pose for a photo while picketing at Bayport Terminal on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Annie Mulligan)ASSOCIATED PRESS

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A strike by dockworkers at 36 ports from Maine to Texas, the first in decades, could snarl supply chains and lead to shortages and higher prices if it stretches on for more than a few weeks.

Workers began walking picket lines early Tuesday in a strike over wages and automation even though progress had been reported in contract talks. The contract between the ports and about 45,000 members of the International Longshoremen’s Association expired at midnight.

The strike comes just weeks before the presidential election and could become a factor if there are shortages.

Workers at the Port of Philadelphia walked in a circle outside the port and chanted “No work without a fair contract.” The union, striking for the first time since 1977, had message boards on the side of a truck reading: “Automation Hurts Families: ILA Stands For Job Protection.”

Local ILA president Boise Butler said workers want a fair contract that doesn’t allow automation of their jobs.

Shipping companies made billions during the pandemic by charging high prices, he said. “Now we want them to pay back. They’re going to pay back,” Butler said.

He said the union will strike for as long as it needs to get a fair deal, and it has leverage over the companies.

“This is not something that you start and you stop,” he said. “We're not weak,” he added, pointing to the union's importance to the nation's economy.

At Port Houston, at least 50 workers started picketing around midnight local time carrying signs saying “No Work Without a Fair Contract."

The U.S. Maritime Alliance, which represents the ports, said Monday evening that both sides had moved off of their previous wage offers. But no deal was reached.

The union’s opening offer in the talks was for a 77% pay raise over the six-year life of the contract, with President Harold Daggett saying it’s necessary to make up for inflation and years of small raises. ILA members make a base salary of about $81,000 per year, but some can pull in over $200,000 annually with large amounts of overtime.

Monday evening, the alliance said it had increased its offer to 50% raises over six years, and it pledged to keep limits on automation in place from the old contract. The alliance also said its offer tripled employer contributions to retirement plans and strengthened health care options.

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The union wants a complete ban on automation. It wasn’t clear just how far apart both sides are.

In a statement early Tuesday, the union said it rejected the alliance's latest proposal because it “fell far short of what ILA rank-and-file members are demanding in wages and protections against automation.” The two sides had not held formal negotiations since June.

Supply chain experts say consumers won’t see an immediate impact from the strike because most retailers stocked up on goods, moving ahead shipments of holiday gift items.

But if it goes more than a few weeks, a work stoppage could lead to higher prices and delays in goods reaching households and businesses.

If drawn out, the strike will force businesses to pay shippers for delays and cause some goods to arrive late for peak holiday shopping season — potentially impacting delivery of anything from toys and artificial Christmas trees to cars, coffee and fruit.

The strike will likely have an almost immediate impact on supplies of perishable imports like bananas, for example. The ports affected by the strike handle 3.8 million metric tons of bananas each year, or 75% of the nation’s supply, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation.

It also could snarl exports from East Coast ports and create traffic jams at ports on the West Coast, where workers are represented by a different union. Railroads say they can ramp up to carry more freight from the West Coast, but analysts say they can’t move enough to make up for the closed Eastern ports.

J.P. Morgan estimated that a strike that shuts down East and Gulf coast ports could cost the economy $3.8 billion to $4.5 billion per day, with some of that recovered over time after normal operations resume.

Retailers, auto parts suppliers and produce importers had hoped for a settlement or that President Joe Biden would intervene and end the strike using the Taft-Hartley Act, which allows him to seek an 80-day cooling off period.

But during an exchange with reporters on Sunday, Biden, who has worked to court union votes for Democrats, said “no” when asked if he planned to intervene in the potential work stoppage.

A White House official said Monday that at Biden’s direction, the administration has been in regular communication with the ILA and the alliance to keep the negotiations moving forward.

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Krisher in reported from Detroit. Associated Press journalists Ben Finley in Norfolk, Virginia, Mae Anderson and Wyatte Grantham-Philips in New York, Dee-Ann Durbin in Detroit, Josh Boak in Washington, and Annie Mulligan in Houston contributed to this report.

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