Members of the International Longshoremen’s Association walked out for the first time since 1977 in a standoff over wages, benefits and job security.

Longshoremen are on strike, shutting down East, Gulf ports. Economic losses of $5 billion per day can mean shortages, inflation and layoffs.

Roughly 45,000 port workers from Maine to Texas have started a strike Tuesday as their union, the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), | Despite 45,000 port workers across the East and Gulf Coasts going on strike,