Ports Along U.S. East & Gulf Coasts Close As ILA Strike Begins

As of 12:01 this morning, all U.S. ports along the East & Gulf Coasts have been closed indefinitely. The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) members officially went on strike after the expiration of their master contract at midnight on September 30. 

The ILA was unable to come to terms on a new agreement with the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) after talks stalled in June and never gained much traction after that. The main dispute was over wages and raises over the lifetime of the new contract. Other sticking points included automation at some ports, which the ILA was vehemently against.  

There is no current indication as to the length of the strike. Scarbrough will monitor the situation and provide updates as needed. 

If you have any concerns over your freight and need assistance with alternative shipping options, please reach out to us today. Air freight is likely to be the most common alternative, but we will work with everyone on a case-by-case basis to determine the best solution.