Well, howdy there internet people, it's Bell again.

So today we're going to talk about the docks, unions, delays, and decision time.

There is a possibility that the International Longshoremen's Association could go on strike

this week. Is it a big deal? Yes. A strike could shut down more than 30 ports from

Maine to Texas. Basically basically the entire East Coast.

Those ports handle roughly half of the shipments coming into the country.

The rumor mill says that the Biden administration is putting pressure on port operators to negotiate

with the union and to reach an agreement before the strike.

There are no known talks scheduled between now and when a strike would start.

But James McNamara, that's the spokesperson for the union, said he would update the public today with any developments. The union itself is in a pretty strong

position. Their demands are relatively simple, higher wages and a ban on automating some functions inside ports.

They also have the time of year and the election working for them.

Shutting down the ports right now would hit a lot of retailers right before the holiday shopping season.

If the strike was prolonged, it would impact the availability of products for the holidays.

Politically, the Biden administration is going to want to avoid a strike or at least bring it to a close quickly.

A prolonged strike would decrease the supply of certain products while demand would remain

the same or even higher because of the holidays.

That would mean prices would go up.

It's unlikely voters would say,

oh, it's because of the strike.

Because Republicans would blame Biden just like they are with eggs.

The price increases there are primarily driven by

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