On September 30, New York Governor Hochul stated that preparations have been made in advance to address the potential strike at East Coast ports on October 1.
The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), representing 45,000 port workers, and the employer group United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) are currently negotiating. If no agreement is reached before the contract expires on October 1, port workers from Maine on the East Coast to Texas in the southern Gulf of Mexico will go on strike starting from the early hours of that day. Hochul urged USMX and ILA to reach an agreement, respect workers’ rights, and ensure that the bustling commercial activities at New York ports, one of the busiest in America, are not disrupted by the strike. She also stated that state agencies and relevant authorities are prepared to provide assistance to working families in case of a strike.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) is closely collaborating with the commercial trucking industry to ensure that essential goods, medical supplies, and food that have been unloaded can be smoothly transported out of the ports to their final destinations. Communication has also been established with ILA regarding strike protest areas. Executive Director of the Port Authority Cotton mentioned that if the strike continues, the 35 vessels currently heading to the New York ports will anchor offshore under the supervision of the U.S. Coast Guard.
The Department of Health is communicating with hospitals and nursing homes across the state, reminding them to maintain a stockpile of personal protective equipment and other critical supplies for at least 60 days. The New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (NYS DHSES) is closely monitoring the situation, coordinating state agencies, and preparing to deploy available resources when needed.
If ILA workers go on strike, it will be the first time since 1977 and could result in economic losses of up to $5 billion per day nationwide. However, the state expects that the strike will not affect petroleum products, including home heating oil, gasoline, and diesel, as well as municipal solid waste transportation in the ports of New York and New Jersey, or cruise ship operations. Ports like Albany, Coeyman, Oswego, and Buffalo in upstate New York will also remain unaffected.