GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES STATEWIDE PREPARATIONS IN ANTICIPATION OF POTENTIAL STRIKE ACTION AT U.S. EAST AND GULF COAST PORTS
State Moving Essential Goods To Protect Working Families
Hospitals Reminded To Stockpile PPE
Home Heating Oil, Gasoline and Diesel To Be Unaffected During Possible Strike
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that New York State entities are actively preparing ahead of a possible strike at ports from Maine to Texas beginning October 1, as negotiations between the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) are ongoing.
“As conversations between the ILA and USMX continue with a deadline of October 1, New York is prepared to support working families if a strike occurs,” Governor Hochul said. “As the deadline looms, I urge the USMX and the ILA to come to an agreement that respects workers and ensures commerce can continue through our nation’s busiest ports here in New York.”
The potential strike is not anticipated to affect petrochemical goods including home heating oil, gasoline and diesel, as well as municipal solid waste in the Port of New York and New Jersey. Cruise ships would be unaffected. Governor Hochul has directed New York State agencies and authorities to prepare in the event of a strike action, and these preparations include:
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
PANYNJ has been actively preparing for the possible event of a strike at the Port, which is the largest on the eastern seaboard. The Port Authority has been working closely with the commercial trucking industry to ensure cargo containing essential goods, medical supplies, and food products that have already been offloaded are moved out of Port facilities and to their final destinations. Additionally, the Port has communicated with the ILA regarding appropriate protest areas to protect free speech.
Upstate Ports
We do not anticipate that Upstate ports including Albany, Coeymans, Oswego and Buffalo will be impacted by a strike.
Department of Health
In anticipation of a potential disruption to the medical products supply chain, New York State Department of Health has communicated with hospitals and nursing homes across New York State and reminded them of the requirement to maintain a 60-day stockpile of personal protective equipment and other critical goods. DOH and the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services will remain in regular communication with health care providers to monitor any supply chain impacts and redeploy resources, as necessary.
Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services
The New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services’ Office of Emergency Management is closely monitoring the situation and is coordinating with state agencies on any potential resource deployments. Additionally, all state stockpiles are prepared to deploy any available resources including generators in the event they are needed.
