The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) initiated a strike involving approximately 47,000 workers across East and Gulf Coast ports, the largest labor action at U.S. ports in nearly 50 years, demanding a 77% pay increase and protections against automation. This strike, the first since 1977, follows the expiration of a six-year contract with the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX) and is projected to cost the economy between $4 billion to $5 billion per day, potentially disrupting the supply chain and impacting consumer goods prices. Former President Donald Trump attributed the strike to inflation caused by the Biden administration, with Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville urging Biden to intervene. Despite calls from industry groups and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to invoke the Taft-Hartley Act for a resolution, President Biden has refrained from intervening. The ILA rejected USMX's latest wage offer, which included a near 50% wage increase, highlighting ongoing deadlock in negotiations. Union President Harold Daggett emphasized the readiness to continue the strike until their demands are met, signaling potential long-term disruptions.