Union dockworkers along the eastern seaboard and Gulf Coast have gone on strike.

The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) is seeking a renegotiated contract, as the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) is making billions of dollars, while workers are seeing very little in return.

“USMX brought on this strike when they decided to hold firm to foreign owned Ocean Carriers earning billion-dollar profits at United States ports, but not compensate the American ILA longshore workers who perform the labor that brings them their wealth,” ILA President Harold Daggett said.

The Biden administration is not taking any steps, so far, to interfere with the process of negotiating a collectively bargained contract.

Around 50,000 workers are taking part in the strike, which will stop the flow of goods in the country until one of the sides budges. From CNN:

A wide gap remained between the union’s demands and the contract offer from [USMX].

…

“If we have to be out here a month or two months, this world will collapse,” said ILA President Harold Daggett in an interview with CNN Tuesday morning. “Go blame them. Don’t blame me, blame them.”