Some of the busiest ports in the US were braced for crippling disruption after about 45,000 port workers represented by the International Longshoremen\u2019s Association (ILA) began walking off the job after their contracts expired at midnight.<\/p>\n
Talks over a new union contract between the ILA and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) broke down on Monday and workers were expected to begin striking at 12.01 am ET on Tuesday with 36 ports along the east and Gulf coasts affected.<\/p>\n
Workers began picketing at the port of Philadelphia shortly after midnight, the Associated Press reported, walking in a circle at a rail crossing outside the port and chanting, \u201cNo work without a fair contract.\u201d The port of Virginia also confirmed the work stoppage.<\/p>\n