Biden won't block dockworkers' strike

President Joe Biden will not ‌intervene in a potential strike by dockworkers at East and Gulf Coast ports, according to an administration official. The strike is set to commence on October 1 if negotiations fail. The International Longshoremen's Association, representing 45,000 workers, is at an impasse over wages and automation issues. A strike could disrupt half of the US containerized cargo imports and cost the economy up to $5 billion daily. US presidents can intervene in labor disputes that threaten national security or safety by imposing an 80-day cooling-off period under the federal Taft-Hartley Act, forcing workers back on the job while negotiations continue.