The decision to strike at midnight at many of the Eastern United States’ biggest ports will not be felt by consumers unless the strike drags on for weeks or months, economists predict.
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The strike – the first of its kind since the 1970′s – was anticipated by retail giants and industry analysts well in advance, allowing the supply chain to brace itself in addition to practices implemented after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Port Canaveral is not included in the strike because it’s non-union, but Miami, Jacksonville and Tampa are. Tampa is Central Florida’s biggest concern because fuel flows from the port to a pipeline in Orange County.
However, Kinder Morgan executives said their operations aren’t being impacted.
Read: Dockworkers strike; ports shut down
“We do not expect any impacts,” a spokeswoman wrote in response to questioning Tuesday.
Retail chains said they already have some consumer goods in their warehouses in anticipation of the upcoming holiday season.