Picket lines form as thousands of longshoremen in New York and New Jersey begin their longshore strike

ELIZABETH, NJ – A port strike has resulted in more than 20,000 longshoremen losing their jobs and going to the picket line along the East and Gulf Coastsincluding in the ports of New York and New Jersey.

Billions of dollars' worth of goods are arriving at the ports, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey confirms that most operations have been suspended.

“Just moments ago, the first large-scale longshoremen's strike in the East in 47 years began at ports from Maine to Texas, including the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. In preparation for this moment, New York has been working around the clock “Ensure our grocery stores and medical facilities have the essential products they need,” New York Governor Kathy Hochul said in a statement shortly after midnight Explanation. “It is critical for USMX and the ILA to reach a fair agreement soon that respects workers and ensures trade flows through our ports. In the meantime, we will continue our efforts to minimize disruption to New Yorkers.”

Hundreds of workers have taken to the picket line in Port Elizabeth and similar scenes have unfolded there Boston And Philadelphia when the strike took effect at midnight.

“I hope that people come to the table sooner rather than later — figure out what they want,” New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said Tuesday afternoon.

Why do dock workers go on strike?

This is the International Longshoremen's Association First strike in almost 50 yearsImpacting 14 ports from Massachusetts to Texas. Dockworkers are responsible for loading and unloading cargo, and the ports handle nearly half of the country's ships.

Contract negotiations between the ILA and the US Maritime Alliance, which represents shipping and port terminal companies, collapsed on Monday.

The longshoremen's union is demanding a wage increase of 77% over six years. It also opposes fully and semi-automated terminals because of their impact on jobs.

The union leader spoke to reporters early Tuesday morning in New Jersey.

“I've been pushing for a flat $5 for six years and I'm going to fight for it because these greedy companies are making billions of dollars and they don't want to share it. That's why we're out here now fighting for a treaty,” said Harold J. Daggett, ILA president and chief negotiator. “Nobody knew what the longshoremen were. We were disrespected, but now we will. Now we will do when they find out that shopping centers are going to close because the goods can't come in and that car salesmen are going to be laid off. “You know what? Everything that comes into this country comes out of the containers on these ships.”

“We have it where in this country you can get a 30-year mortgage for a first-time home buyer, but what happens when my six-year contract comes to an end and they say automation is going to take my job?” “Where does my mortgage go? I don’t have a job to pay the mortgage,” said union leader Wade Foster. “Now I have more unemployed people, which makes the top officials in this country look like they haven't done their job. If they did their job, these are the people who let us down.”

The US Maritime Alliance said it had offered the union a nearly 50% pay increase that “goes beyond any other recent union agreements,” and a spokesman said the current contract contains language saying there will be no fully automated terminals . The group has filed an unfair labor practice lawsuit to bring the other side to the table.

President Joe Biden can intervene and call for an 80-day cooling-off period, but he has said he is doing so I don't want to get involved in a union matter.

Which products will be affected?

The contract negotiations have been going on for months and in advance some goods were moved to ports on the West Coast that are not affected by the strikes.

Consumer goods such as clothing, shoes, accessories, furniture, cars and some food products such as fish, wine and fresh produce could be the first to be affected.

Hochul declared the strike on Monday does not mean there will be a shortage of household goods, at least not in the foreseeable future.

“New York is well prepared,” she said. “As we prepare for the worst – and that is what we are supposed to do in government, prepare for the worst – there is also some reassuring news. We do not expect there to be any shortages of essential goods in the foreseeable future. For example, people do not have to rush to the grocery store and hoard goods as they did during the pandemic.”

The governor said pharmaceuticals are not expected to be affected as most of them are transported by air. The state has medical supplies on hand and is ready to distribute them if necessary.

She also said that no impact on heating oil, gas and diesel is expected and that municipal waste management will continue.

Experts say consumers may already be facing shortages due to Hurricane Helene and a prolonged strike will drastically affect product availability.

For each day that the strike continues in the New York-New Jersey area, an estimated economic loss of hundreds of millions of dollars will be incurred.

Alecia Reid contributed to this report.