Longshoremen's Association ILA Strike: Tri-State Area Prepares for Possible Strike; could impact 14 ports on the East and Gulf Coasts

ELIZABETH, New Jersey (WABC) — Longshoremen in the Tri-State are preparing for a possible strike.

By midnight Tuesday, about 45,000 longshoremen could be on the picket line at 14 ports across the East and Gulf Coast.

The two parties to the dispute have not met since June and no talks are currently planned.

There are fears a strike could throw the country's supply chain into chaos.

“It is estimated that a strike would cost about $5 billion a day,” said Margaret Kidd, director of supply chain and logistics at the University of Houston.

Negotiations between the Longshoremen's Union and the US Maritime Alliance, which represents shippers and ports, have stalled.

Ports from Texas to New England account for nearly 35% of all U.S. imports and exports.

According to the National Retail Federation, “Recovery from a one-day shutdown takes three to five days. The longer it goes on, the worse it gets.”

What do the union members want? Higher wages and protection against automation.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said it is monitoring the situation and coordinating with partners across the supply chain for potential impacts.

“We must fight for what we rightfully deserve. Let's get a contract. And let us get on with this world,” said Harold J. Daggett, ILA president.

“If they have the power to get more money out of the steamboat industry, which they deserve, then they have more power,” said Mark Nieves of the Drayage Drivers Association of NY/NJ. “But we also need more money. The changes, the changes necessary to improve the industry for tomorrow.”

“We even worked with the Teamsters at one point to form a union, but we couldn't do it because of antitrust laws,” said Edison Villacis of the Port Drivers Association.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul plans to speak later Monday about the state's plans to deal with possible disruptions in the event of a strike.

President Joe Biden has the power to stop the strike but says he won't. Instead, he calls on both sides to negotiate “fairly and quickly.”

The Maritime Alliance says it is willing to negotiate, but claims the union is not negotiating in good faith.

(Some information from ABC News)

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