ILA union longshoremen at East Coast, Gulf Coast ports walk off the job after ownership and labor failed to reach a deal in a blow to the U.S. economy.

The union representing U.S. dockworkers signaled that 45,000 members will walk off the job at midnight, kicking off a massive strike likely to shut down ports across the East

A prolonged shutdown could deal a significant blow to the economy since the workers control major commercial choke points.