The last negotiations held were unsuccessful in the past few hours, to prevent the start of the strike of the port workers of the East Coast and the US Gulf ports. The United States Maritime Alliance (USMX), the association that represents container shipping companies whose services dock in the ports of these regions as well as several operators who manage container terminals in these ports has announced that he has exchanged with the union International Longshoremen's Association counter-proposals aimed at avert the strike: "The USMX - explained the association employer - has increased its offer and has also requested an extension of the current framework contract, now that both the parties - USMX argued - have abandoned their previous positions. We trust that this will allow us a complete resumption of collective bargaining on other issues in suspended, in an attempt to reach an agreement. Our offer - underlined the association - would increase wages by almost 50%, would triple employers' contributions to the plans pension of employees, would enhance our related to health care and would maintain the current formulation relating to automation and semi-automation'.

The USMX's confidence in the resumption of negotiations is was in vain: just after midnight the International Longshoremen's Association has announced the closure of all ports on the Atlantic and Gulf Coast and the beginning of the strike. ILA confirmed that negotiations have continued until late yesterday evening and specified that he had rejected the latest offer presented yesterday by the USMX stating that "the The USMX's alleged wage increase proposal was found to be far below the demands of ILA members for ratify a new contract. Now - underlined the president of the ILA, Harold J. Daggett - the USMX has had its own strike. Hour For this strike to end, they must meet our requests". Highlighting that this is the first strike of in all ports in these regions for almost 50 years, Daggett specified that the union is ready "to continue the strike for any period of time necessary, to obtain the wages and protections against automation that our members of the ILA deserve it".

Meanwhile, the strike proclaimed by the ILA has had full steam support for Teamsters, the powerful American trade union association of road hauliers: "the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, including our transportation industry associates - announced the president of the organization, Sean M. O'Brien - is fully supportive of the International Longshoremen's Association in the fight for a fair contract and fair with the ocean carriers represented by the USMX. Carriers seafarers - denounced O'Brien - are on strike against themselves themselves after failing to negotiate a contract that recognized the value of these workers. Our brothers and sisters sisters of the ILA play an essential role in maintaining the function the American economy and deserve the highest wages of the sector and solid protections for the crucial work carried out". O'Brien harshly urged the government not to intervene in the dispute between the parties, asserting that "for too long the companies were able to count on political puppets to help them to strip workers of their intrinsic value". The Teamsters president concluded by announcing that truck drivers do not they will pass the pickets set up by the port workers.