PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Thousands of port workers are set to strike this week all across the East Coast as negotiations between companies and the International Longshoremen’s Association struggle to move forward. A stalemate between union port workers and the US Maritime Alliance will reach a boiling point as the calendar rolls over to October. The strike could bring nearly two-thirds of US trade to a halt and cost billions of dollars. “It’s estimated that a strike would cost somewhere around $5 billion a day,” said Margaret Kidd, the Director of supply chain and logistics at the University of Houston. The disagreement is between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, which represents port workers all across the country, and the United States Maritime Alliance, representing terminal operators and ocean carriers. The top disagreement between the groups is pay for the next six years. The Maritime Alliance is offering a 40 percent raise over the 6-year contract, while the union looks for around double that for its workers. “Anything beyond two weeks is going to be very, very, very disruptive,” said Jason Miller, an assistant Professor at Michigan State University. “A lot of the parts that would be needed to produce vehicles, let’s say toward the end of this month will be on those boats right now.  And so, if those don’t get unloaded, you’ll start having sporadic plant slowdowns.” Miller continued. Once in effect, the strike is expected to impact just about everything, from chocolate to alcohol, car parts and anything else being transported through nearly a dozen ports up the east coast. Concerns are also growing about recovering from a strike. According to the National Retail Federation, a one-day shutdown takes three to five days to recover from. The longer it goes, the worse it gets. Economists estimate a week-long strike could reduce US GDP between $4.5 to $7.5 billion, or 0.1 percent annualized, for every week that it continues.  The US Maritime Alliance filed an unfair labor practice lawsuit against the union to try and force them back to the bargaining table The union has also said it will continue to honor agreements to transport military cargo and assist cruise ships as the strike goes on. Categories: News