Dock workers on the East and Gulf Coasts could go on strike next Monday, as the labor contract between the operators of port terminals and the International Longshoremen's Association is set to expire. This could lead to significant disruptions in supply chains.
In anticipation of a work stoppage — which a JPMorgan transportation analysis estimated would cost the economy $5B a day — many importers have diverted shipments to West Coast ports or stocked up on goods they'll need later in the year in order to have them before a potential strike.
This is going to be a difficult battle, but it's a necessary one for the dock workers who are being disadvantaged by current labor laws and being exploited by greedy corporations. A strike is the only way to teach the powers that be a lesson. If the Biden administration is as pro-union as it claims, it'll get involved in these negotiations on the dock workers' side.