PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — The sprawling terminals of the Port of Virginia will sit mostly idle until an agreement can be reached that’ll send thousands of longshoremen back to work.

By Monday at 6 p.m., towering cranes at both Virginia International Gateway and Norfolk International Terminal stood secured over the edge of empty berths, gates letting railroads onto the property were locked up and rumble of trucks could not be heard.

The Port of Virginia looked much a ghost town.

The reason? The expiration of a contract between the International Longshoremen’s Association and United States Maritime Alliance at midnight, Oct. 1.

While the union for 45,000 dockworkers and the group representing East and Gulf Coast ports have exchanged wage offers after weeks of gridlock, a work stoppage is now in effect.

International Longshoremen’s Association members at the Port of Virginia’s Virginia International Gateway could be seen on strike just after midnight Tuesday.

International Longshoremen’s Association members above went on strike at the Port of Virginia’s Virginia International Gateway as of midnight Tuesday (Photos courtesy of Charmaine Butler)

In a statement, the alliance, which represents 36 ports from Maine to Texas, said that both sides have moved from their previous positions. An ask has also been made for the union to extend the current contract.

“We are hopeful that this could allow us to fully resume collective bargaining around the other outstanding issues in an effort to reach an agreement,” a statement from the alliance read. “Our offer would increase wages by nearly 50%, triple employer contributions to employee retirement plans, strengthen our health care options, and retain the current language around automation and semi-automation.”

The union has demanded 77% pay raises over six years to help deal with inflation, along with a total ban on the automation of cranes, gates and container-moving trucks used in the loading or unloading of freight.

No statement from the union has come as of the publishing of this article.

However, Rodrick Riddick, a longshoremen himself working in Portsmouth, is hopeful the strike will help them get what it is asking for.

“Well, hopefully, I’m thinking that it will be good for us, so we can get our benefits and everything straight,” Riddick said. “That’s a more important thing, and that’s what we’re trying to do. And for our wages and, I’m just trying to think that’s going to be a great thing. You know, basically looking towards our officials to make the right decision for us.” 

Economists warn impacts in places like Hampton Roads could be felt soon if a strike persists. The Port of Virginia is the sixth-largest containerized cargo complex in the country.

It’s not only ILA workers who are impacted. Julia Paige is a dispatcher, and at midnight, she didn’t have a job anymore.

“I’m a dispatcher for my drivers, and I am unable to send them to get work, so I’m not needed right now,” Paige said.

Dr. Bob McNab, an economist with Old Dominion University, said leisure spending will be down likely at restaurants and other entertainment properties in the region as families tighten their belt.

The Port of Virginia said in a message posted to its website early Tuesday morning that the following operations will be closed until an agreement is reached:

• Norfolk International Terminals
• Virginia International Gateway
• Newport News Marine Terminal
• Pinners Point Container Yard
• Portsmouth Chassis Yard
• Reefer Service Area
• The Damage Annex

It said the office of the Virginia Port Authority, as well as Virginia International Terminals and Hampton Roads Chassis Pool II are “open in accordance with their regular schedules.”

The Port of Virginia said Richmond Marine Terminal and Virginia Inland Port will operate normally, “but cargo operations will be impacted.” It also said Portsmouth Marine Terminal “will operate as normal.”

“Our hope is for a speedy resolution that allows The Port of Virginia to implement its resumption of operations plan to methodically and safely bring terminals back online,” the Port of Virginia said on its website just after midnight Tuesday. “At this time, it is unclear how long this work stoppage will last.”