Supply Chain Drama, the sequel.

From Marketplace, I'm Sabrie Benashore, in for David Brancaccio.

We're heading into another summer with the specter of serious disruptions at ports snarling supply chains.

Last year it was at west coast ports.

This year it is at ports along the east and gulf coasts.

The union representing dock workers there is called off negotiations with shipping companies because The Union

with shipping companies because the Union says those companies are trying to

replace workers with automation.

Marketplace's Nova Safo has the details.

The International Longshoremen's Association was supposed to hold talks today with the US Maritime Alliance,

which represents shipping companies at East and Gulf Coast ports.

The Union called off the negotiations after it said it discovered

use of automated technology at the Port of Mobile, Alabama. The Union says the technology

is likely being used at other ports as well in violation of its current

labor agreement. The union pointed fingers at shipping giant Mersk, but the company told

CMBC that it was in compliance with its labor contract. The use of automation

and semi-automation tools is a sore spot for the dock workers union and

negotiations are at a critical phase with the so-called master contract between the two sides set to expire at the end of September.

Talks between a separate union and West Coast ports became acrimonious last year with work slowdowns and stoppages threatening fragile supply chains.

The White House intervened, finally helping the two sides reach a deal in June of last year after

13 months of talks. I'm Novisafo for Marketplace.

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