Thousands of dockworkers at every major East and Gulf coast port are girding to strike in less than 24 hours, threatening to close trade gateways that handle about half of all goods shipped in containers in and out of the U.S.
President Joe Biden on Sunday said he would not intervene, and that the contract dispute should be resolved through collective bargaining.
Negotiations between the union representing dockworkers and a shipping industry group representing terminal operators and ocean carriers have been stalled for months, with both sides issuing conflicting statements about their willingness to bargain.
“A port strike could cost the U.S. economy billions of dollars a day, hurting American businesses, workers and consumers across the country,” Business Roundtable CEO Joshua Bolten said in a statement this weekend. “We urge both sides to come to an agreement before Monday night’s deadline.”
The United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) has filed an unfair labor practice with the National Labor Relations Board requesting “immediate injunctive relief — requiring the union to resume bargaining — so we can negotiate a deal,” the alliance said Thursday.
The NLRB confirmed it had received the unfair labor practice charge, which is being docketed by its regional office in Newark, New Jersey. The charge will appear on the agency’s website in the next few days, after which an investigation would begin.
USMX’s appeal to the NLRB was…
