Mark Rockwell
Government Security News
As the deadline for a labor strike at major U.S. east coast ports looms on Dec. 31, Customs and Border Protection is bracing for the impact on cargo coming into the U.S., publishing alternative strategies to process it.
Collective bargaining for a new master agreement between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), and the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX) has been on the rocks for weeks. A breakdown in the agreement could produce a huge strike affecting the U.S. container-shipping industry. The ILA represents 14,500 dockworkers at 14 ports along the eastern seaboard and Gulf coast. The deadline for a strike is Dec. 31 at 12:01 am eastern time.
As the strike looms, U.S. Customs and Border Protection issued on Dec. 21 a series of measures that shipping companies can take for their vessels’ and cargo entry during a strike.