Members of the local International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) have voted to approve a strike at the Port of Charleston, S.C. Local 1422 ILA President Kenneth Riley said it is not unusual for a union to authorize a strike at this point in the process and that there is no imminent threat of a strike, but it has requested federal arbitration. "The strike vote gives us the authorization if it comes to that," Riley said. 

Officials said in the release it was not uncommon for workers to make the strike vote and continue to talk out the dispute without a stoppage in work.No workers have walked off the job and the ILA's union has not taken action to halt cargo movement at the local marine terminals, according to Billy Adams Jr., executive director of the South Carolina Stevedore Association.

We are closely monitoring the situation with the ILA negotiations and will be updating any clients who may be directly affected. If you have any questions, please contact your move manager, who can provide you with the latest available information.