Florida port directors held a conference call with Governor Rick Scott today to warn about the impact of a looming dockworkers strike.
The dockworkers union is prepared to strike unless there’s agreement on a new contract before Saturday night, when an extension on the old contract expires.
A strike could disrupt shipments from about 60 cargo carriers a week at ports across Florida.Port Miami director Bill Johnson says effects could ripple throughout the supply chain.
“It isn’t just six thousand people working on my port today. It’s tens of thousands of people working in South Florida and throughout the state", said Johnson. "It isn’t just Miami impacted as a port, it’s Orlando, it’s Cleveland Ohio, I mean this is an impact nationwide.”
Florida’s 15 deepwater ports account for about 550,000 jobs and generate $66 billion in economic activity.
Governor Rick Scott has asked President Barack Obama to use a federal law to stop the strike if a deal isn’t reached by the Saturday deadline.
The dockworkers union, International Longshoremen’s Association, is continuing bargaining talks with the US Maritime Alliance which represents the ports and shippers.