US Ports shutdown could lead to construction delays

Members of the International Longshoremen’s Association have gone on strike. Image: Adobe Stock

Members of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) have gone on strike at 14 major ports along the east and gulf coasts of the US, the first shutdown in almost 50 years.

The impacted ports are some of the main points of entry for construction materials, heavy machinery, food, vehicles and chemicals, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The two sides are fighting over a six-year contract that covers approximately 25,000 port workers employed in container and roll-on/roll-off operations, according to the US Maritime Alliance (USMX), which represents shipping firms, port associations and marine terminal operators.

“USMX brought on this strike when they decided to hold firm to foreign-owned ocean carriers earning billion-dollar profits at United States ports, but not compensate the American ILA longshore workers who perform the labor that brings them their wealth,” said ILA President Harold Daggett in a statement.

The Associated Builders and Contractors, the US Chamber of Commerce and other groups have called on President Biden to invoke the Taft-Hartley Act to halt the strike while negotiations continue. Under the law, Biden could impose an 80-day waiting period before workers could strike.

“If the Biden-Harris administration is serious about rebuilding America – and maximizing hundreds of billions of dollars in taxpayer investments in infrastructure, clean energy and manufacturing – the construction industry simply cannot afford any more supply chain disruptions and additional cost hikes on critical materials,” said Kristen Swearingen, ABC vice president of legislative & political affairs, in a statement.