Workers at the US ports of Philadelphia, New York and New Jersey have reportedly gone on strike in protest at apparent plans by Del Monte Fresh Produce to change the location of its New Jersey port handling operations.
Officials at Del Monte are understood to have accepted the possibility that other similar walkouts by dockers in Florida and Texas may occur shortly.
According to the Philadelphia Daily News quoting International Longshoremen Association (ILA) spokesman Frank Keel, around 200 workers belonging to the ILA closed down Packer Avenue Marine Terminal at the Port of Philadelphia.
As a result, one containership carrying fresh produce is understood to be sat idle at the port.
Meanwhile, about 1,500 ILA workers in the Port of New York and New Jersey have shut down six terminals, the publication said, leaving 12 ships idle, said officials from the union and terminal operators' body the New York Shipping Association.
The report stated that Del Monte plans to move from Camden Port, in New Jersey, to a smaller terminal in Gloucester City, also in New Jersey.
The Packer Avenue Marine Terminal in Philadelphia and the Holt Marine Terminal in Gloucester City are both operated by the Holt family-owned company Astro Holdings.
The latter is said to offer Del Monte lower running costs and workers which are not affiliated with an ILA union.
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