As experts anticipated, members of the International Longshoremen’s Association went on strike Tuesday, hoping to settle on a new agreement with the United States Maritime Alliance, leaving cargo in limbo at East and Gulf Coast ports, including at the Port of Virginia.

Workers want better pay and restrictions on how automation can be used at ports, according to the association. 

Representing members working at American ports from Maine to Texas, the association said Monday that USMX continues to “block the path” towards an agreement by refusing the association’s demands for a “fair and decent contract.”

“ILA longshore workers deserve to be compensated for the important work they do keeping American commerce moving and growing,” the association stated. The group is the largest union of maritime workers in North America. 

Some ILA members work at the Port of Virginia, which suspended operations on Monday in anticipation of the work stoppage. It’s uncertain how long the stoppage will last, or the full impact on delayed shipments of goods to stores and businesses.

Analysts at Sea-Intelligence, a Copenhagen-based shipping advisory firm, told Reuters in August that the backlog from a one-day strike could take between four to six days to clear.

“Our hope is for a speedy resolution that allows The Port of Virginia to implement its resumption of operations plan to methodically and safely bring terminals back online,” representatives of the Port of Virginia said in a statement.

Until an agreement is reached, the Port of Virginia said operations at the following areas would be closed: 

• Norfolk International Terminals
• Virginia International Gateway
• Newport News Marine Terminal
• Pinners Point Container Yard
• Portsmouth Chassis Yard
• Reefer Service Area
• The Damage Annex

The offices of the Virginia Port Authority, Virginia International Terminals and Hampton Roads Chassis Pool II are open according to their regular schedules.

Portsmouth Marine Terminal will remain open. Richmond Marine Terminal and Virginia Inland Port will also stay open, but customers should expect cargo operations to be impacted.

According to last May’s State of the Port, a total of 3.7 million units of cargo were processed in 2022, a 5% increase since 2021.