On Monday, 1 October, following many weeks of speculation, dockworkers on the East and Gulf coasts of the USA went on strike.

The strike has led to the closing of 14 ports, including: Baltimore, Boston, Charleston, Houston, Jacksonville, Miami, Mobile, New Orleans, Norfolk, Savannah, Tampa, and Wilmington.  It is the first such strike in 50 years.

The strike involves tens of thousands of dockworkers who have gone on indefinite strike.  It is inevitable that the industrial action will cause significant disruption and delays as goods are stuck in the ports and shippers try to find alternative routes. President Joe Biden has the power to force a suspension of the action for 80 days to allow further negotiations to take place but, at the time of writing, shows no signs of doing so.

The strike is about money and potential threats from automation.  The US Maritime Alliance, known as USMX, which represents shipping firms, port associations and marine terminal operators said that it had increased its offer and provided higher pension contributions and better health care.  Workers say, however, that profits had soared during COVID while their earnings were affected by inflation.

As well as the inevitable delays the strike is likely to push up shipping costs if it continues for an extended period.