Striking US dockworkers threaten the economy and Harris campaign

Biden needs to intervene, even if his reputation as a pro-labour leader takes a hit.

- Thomas Black

The much-anticipated labour strike at ports along the US East and Gulf coasts has begun, and the impact is a bit anti-climactic - for now.

Retailers, manufacturers and other shippers have been building inventory for a while and have mapped out alternative entry points for their goods at West Coast ports. Besides enduring a barrage of news reports about the pending chaos, consumers won't be affected immediately. The International Longshoremen's Association, which represents about 45,000 port workers, and the US Maritime Alliance, aren't close to an agreement.

The calm before the storm won't last long. Inventories will be whittled down, and the temporary solution of transporting goods from the West Coast across the country by rail and truck will become saturated. There's just no way to handle all the volume that would flow through ports from Maine to Texas, a massive stretch of coastline that's home to about half of the US' busiest ports.