Around 45,000 members of the International Longshoremen’s Association, including Charleston workers, have been on strike since Tuesday, Oct. 1
Will the strike impact you? Keep reading as Kent Gourdin, DBA, a professor + Director of the Global Logistics and Transportation Program at the College of Charleston, helps us break things down.
Will I be impacted?
Gourdin told CHStoday that the longer the strike lasts, the longer it will take to restock depleted items. He noted, “I’ve read that it takes roughly five times as long as the strike lasts for the supply chain to recover.” He also explained some people are going into panic mode and buying bulk supplies, which is probably unnecessary right now.
What items will be impacted?
Perishable products will be the first to suffer (think: food, flowers, and pharmaceuticals) because of their short shelf life. Gourdin added, “These can be shipped by air, but at a much higher cost.”
How long will the strike last?
Gourdin answered with, “I think everyone would like to know the answer to this one. Right now, who knows?” The workers will remain on strike until an agreement is reached or until the Taft-Hartley Act of 1947 is enacted.
