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

Ports on both sides of the Delaware River support thousands of jobs and move vast amounts of cargo through the South Jersey-Philadelphia area. However, the International Longshoremen’s Association — representing about 25,000 port workers on the East and Gulf coasts —– might strike when a contract expires at midnight Monday, Sept. 30.