THE chief executive over Georgia's sea ports, Griff Lynch, said a coast wide dock strike next week is likely, reports the Associated Press.
'We should expect a work stoppage and we shouldn't get surprised. The question is: How long,' said Mr Lynch, CEO of the Georgia Ports Authority.
US ports from Maine to Texas have prepared for a shutdown, when the union representing 45,000 dockers in that region has threatened to strike starting October 1.
That's when the contract expires between the International Longshoremen's Association and the United States Maritime Alliance, which represents the ports. Negotiations on a new contract halted in June.
A strike would shut down 36 ports that handle roughly half the nations' cargo from ships. The Port of Savannah ranks No 4 in the US for container cargo that includes retail goods ranging from consumer electronics to frozen chickens. The Port of Brunswick is America's second-busiest for automobiles.
Mr Lynch said he's holding out hope that a strike can be averted, though he added: 'The stark reality is they are not talking right now.' Represented by the maritime alliance, the Georgia Ports Authority has no direct role in negotiating.
As for how long a strike might last, 'I would think we should expect four to five days, and hopefully not beyond that,' Mr Lynch said.
Businesses have been preparing for a potential strike for months, importing extra inventory to fill their warehouses. Mr Lynch said that's one reason container volumes in Savannah increased 13.7 per cent in July and August compared to the same period a year ago.
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'We should expect a work stoppage and we shouldn't get surprised. The question is: How long,' said Mr Lynch, CEO of the Georgia Ports Authority.
US ports from Maine to Texas have prepared for a shutdown, when the union representing 45,000 dockers in that region has threatened to strike starting October 1.
That's when the contract expires between the International Longshoremen's Association and the United States Maritime Alliance, which represents the ports. Negotiations on a new contract halted in June.
A strike would shut down 36 ports that handle roughly half the nations' cargo from ships. The Port of Savannah ranks No 4 in the US for container cargo that includes retail goods ranging from consumer electronics to frozen chickens. The Port of Brunswick is America's second-busiest for automobiles.
Mr Lynch said he's holding out hope that a strike can be averted, though he added: 'The stark reality is they are not talking right now.' Represented by the maritime alliance, the Georgia Ports Authority has no direct role in negotiating.
As for how long a strike might last, 'I would think we should expect four to five days, and hopefully not beyond that,' Mr Lynch said.
Businesses have been preparing for a potential strike for months, importing extra inventory to fill their warehouses. Mr Lynch said that's one reason container volumes in Savannah increased 13.7 per cent in July and August compared to the same period a year ago.
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