ILA strike action closes US East and Gulf Coast ports

The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) has launched strike action across ports on the US East and Gulf Coasts after negotiations over wage demands broke down with the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX). 

The action has impacted 36 ports and significantly disrupted almost half of the country’s import and export activities. 

Key issues centre around wage increases and the ILA’s insistence on halting the automation of port operations, which USMX is opposed to.