Wilmington port hit with labor strike [Video]

WILMINGTON — The Port of Wilmington has seen some impact as 45,000 workers went on strike at 36 ports across the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts starting on Tuesday following a breakdown in contract negotiations between the union and the United States Maritime Alliance.

The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) Local 1694 includes around 200 members across the ports in Wilmington and Philadelphia. They joined other members at midnight on a strike that would include 24/7 demonstrations until demands are met, according to the ILA in a prepared statement. The union represents thousands of men and women who move cargo from shipping vessels that stop in the marine terminals around America. 

The ILA has been negotiating for a $5 per hour pay increase for union members over six years, with the top salaries spanning $39 per hour to $69 over the course of the contract. The United States Maritime Alliance, which represents major shipping lines owned by international …