Shippers want to know if there will be a strike because there’s less than a month until the International Longshoremen Association’s contract with the U.S. Maritime Alliance is set to expire. Supply Chain Dive says a major development in the prolonged negotiations occurred when President-elect Trump voiced his support for the ILA’s stance against automation at ports following a meeting with the union. Farm Policy news says the situation points in the direction of another strike. One shipping giant is already urging its customers to pick up their laden containers and return the empty ones at the U.S. East and Gulf Coast ports before January 15 to mitigate potential disruptions at the terminals on account of the strike. Joe Schuele of the U.S. Meat Export Federation says ports and terminal operators are likely to stop accepting refrigerated cargo several days before the strike date, so shippers should make adjustments now.
East and gulf coast port strike seems more likely
