MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) – The port strike gridlock has some shoppers stocking up across the Gulf Coast.
Dock workers at ports including Mobile go on strike
One popular item that always seems to go first…toilet paper!
Several major retailers across Mobile have almost empty shelves of the household item and others.
One Mobile shopper, Matthew Miller, posted a photo on social media Tuesday of an almost empty Costco aisle.
The caption, “No paper towels. No toilet paper. No bottled water.”
University of South Alabama Professor Peter Simonson says panic shopping creates more of a problem.
“You said it more succinctly than I did. A lot of it’s kind of we’re making the problem ourselves,” Simonson says.
Professor Simonson has a PH.D. in supply chain management.
He says this isn’t the first time this type of panic shopping has happened.
Longshoremen strike could seriously impact local trucking industry
During the 2020 pandemic, shoppers flocked to stores stocking up on items in fear of supply shortages.
Simonson says the economy is well-prepared to handle it.
“We’re preparing for it in general. Also, the strike has kind of been on the table for a while,” he said. “For the economy as a whole we’re pretty resilient. We have a very strong free market. People find a way to get people what they want to buy one way or another.”
On Tuesday dockworkers hit the picket lines demanding a pay increase.
Dockworkers may have the negotiating advantage in their strike against US ports
The contract for the International Longshoremen’s Associations expired at midnight. A 77% pay increase proposal is on the table.
The U.S. Maritime Alliance is only offering a 50% increase over the next six years.
Now, shelves at major retailers are emptying quickly.
“Things like toilet paper bottled water it’s just from a supply standpoint it’s not a problem. 90% of the toilet paper in the United States is made in the United States. The other 10% is in Canada it never sees a port,” Simonson explained. “However, if people like all of us start to get worried and start to buy heavily then there could be a disruption even if there’s not a port problem, even if there’s not a supply chain problem, there’s a demand problem and they clear out the shelves because everybody gets nervous and worries.”
Nationwide longshoremen strike hits Mobile Port, experts warning strike could cost U.S. economy billions
Simonson says if the port strike continues long-term it may make it more difficult for items such as fruits, alcohol, furniture, and auto parts to get here.
But he says we’re a long way from that.
“Perishable fruits and vegetables. We get a tremendous amount of your fruits and vegetables from Central and South America,” he said. “Interestingly enough things like beer and wine and spirits a lot of what comes from Europe and you can’t just put those on a train and get them here. So we’ll start to see more shortages and price increases on those items.”
This is the first time in decades dockworkers have gone on strike. The last time was in 1977.
As of now, no resolution has been made.
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Publish date : 2024-10-02 16:05:00
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