Dockworkers' Union at Impasse with Employers, Strike Looms at Major U.S. Ports

The union representing dockworkers from Maine to Texas reports being "at an impasse" with employers as negotiations for a new labor contract stall, raising the threat of a strike at some of the largest U.S. ports. The International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) is demanding a 77% wage increase over six years, significantly higher than the 32% won by West Coast dockworkers last year. Despite the high stakes, formal negotiations have yet to begin. With the current contract set to expire on Sept. 30, concerns are growing among shipping customers about the potential disruption.