In a statement, President Biden leaned in favor of the ILA dockworkers' demands, putting the burden on USMX’s foreign-owned ocean carriers.

If its members walk off the job at ports stretching from Maine to Texas, it would be the first coast-wide ILA strike since 1977. The ILA and the USMX say they will begin bargaining after May 17 with the goal of forging a new deal before the current six-year contract expires on Sept.

The strike, disrupting shipments along the East and Gulf Coasts, comes as the wine industry tries to make up its sales after a downturn.

East and Gulf coast port workers walked off the job at midnight after failing to agree to a new contract with the United States Maritime Alliance.

Port workers are the latest group flexing their union muscle. The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) is going toe-to-toe with management, the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX). Roughly 50,