A WAR of words broke out between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and employer’s body the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) as dockers walked out yesterday at 36 ports on the country’s east coast. 

The strike by around 45,000 workers is expected to cost the US economy $5 billion (£4bn) a day. 

The union accused the USMX, which represents companies operating in ocean terminals and port operators, of making “low-balled” pay offers and violating the previous contract by introducing automation at several US ports.

USMX filed an unfair labour practice charge against the union with the National Labour Relations Board, alleging that it was refusing to negotiate. 

The employers said they and the union had exchanged new wage proposals, but the ILA dismissed the claim as a “publicity stunt.”

The union is seeking rises of 77 per cent over the six-year contract.

US union federation the AFL-CIO said: “The employers, not the workers, have shirked their responsibility and punted labour negotiations to the 11th hour, when the damage to the public and the national supply chain would be most detrimental.”

Teamsters union president Sean O’Brien gave his backing to ILA members, saying they “deserve industry-leading wages and robust job protections for the vital work they perform.”