Q&A: How Will U.S. Dockworkers Strike Affect Holiday Shopping? [Video]

A possible strike by a union representing about 45,000 dockworkers could lead to a shutdown of U.S. ports from Maine to Texas starting Tuesday.

Such a disruption could increase prices and cause shortages at retailers just as the holiday shopping season approaches.

“First and foremost, we can expect delays to market. And those delays depend on really what the commodities are and priorities at the ports and how quickly things move,” said Mark Baxa, president of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.

What to Know About the Port Strike

The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) is pushing for significantly higher wages and a complete ban on the automation of cranes, gates, and container-moving trucks used in loading and unloading freight at 36 U.S. ports. These ports handle roughly half of the nation’s cargo. The contract between the ILA and the United States Maritime Alliance expires on Tuesday, and the two sides have not negotiated since June. A …