East and Gulf Coast Ports Strike, Impacting Comics, Games, and more

It’s a strike for 50,000 ILA union longshoremen. They walked off the job at East Coast and Gulf Coast ports after an agreement on a new contract was failed to be reached. This is the first strike since 1977. Between 43% and 49% of all US imports come through those ports. The impact will be felt in numerous industries including entertainment such as comics and games, basically anything coming through these ports. Expect numerous Kickstarters to update as to the impact on their deliver, and expect delays. Many already have been laying the groundwork they’ll be impacted.

The International Longshoremen’s Association said it wants a $5 an hour per year increase over six years, all royalties for containers handled, and strict language against automation.

The strike impacts 14 major ports and began at midnight this Tuesday after a failure to reach an agreement. A last ditch effort to avert the strike failed and it’s expected that this will cause significant harm to the economy if it’s lengthy.

At the New York/New Jersey terminal alone it’s estimated 100,000 shipping containers are in limbo now at the port.

It’s an impact on the supply chain which has been shaky since COVID but also due to increased attacks on shipping routes which have forced longer transits to avoid it. Diverting to different ports to avoid the strike, like the West Coast, won’t help as it’s expected other unions will close ranks and support the ILA’s labor battle.

GAMA, the Game Manufacturers Association, has joined a coalition of 200 associations urging a “fair and equitable resolution to this issue.” It has been reported some of what’s now stopped up is stock for the holidays. We’ll have further updates on the impact of the strike.