News - Tens of thousands of dockworkers went on strike at 14 US ports: the first such action in half a century

Tens of thousands of dockworkers have gone on an indefinite strike at ports across much of the United States, threatening significant trade and economic disruption ahead of the presidential election and the busy holiday shopping season, the BBC reported.Members of the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) went on strike Tuesday at 14 major ports on the East and Gulf coasts, halting container shipments from Maine to Texas.The action was the first such shutdown in nearly 50 years.U.S. President Joe Biden has the authority to suspend the strike for 80 days for further negotiations, but the White House has said it has no plans to take action.Negotiations have been stalled for months, and the current contract between the parties expired on Monday. The White House said President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are closely monitoring the strike.“The president has instructed his team to take his message directly to both sides that they must come to the table and negotiate in good faith - fairly and quickly,” the White House said.According to the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX), which represents shipping firms, port associations and marine terminal operators, the two sides are fighting over a six-year master contract that covers about 25,000 port workers in container and cargo handling operations.USMX said Monday that it has increased its demands, which call for wages to be raised by nearly 50 percent, employer contributions to pension plans tripled, and expanded health care options.