Port of Virginia prepares for strike

NORFOLK Va.( WAVY) - The Virginia Port Authority (VPA) and its operating company, Virginia International Terminals (VIT), have begun the process of preparing state-owned cargo terminals in the Hampton Roads Harbor for a strike.

This comes after contract negotiations between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance ended without an agreement.

The strike is scheduled to begin Oct. 1.

“Our goal will be to do everything we can to ensure that all cargo is delivered prior to Oct. 1,” said Joseph A. Dorto, VIT’s president and CEO. Dorto added,“When we resume operations, VIT will do all possible to ensure our customers are taken care of in a timely and efficient manner. The goal is to maintain a high level of service to our customers so that there is minimal disruption to their business. ”

Next week VPA and VIT will hold a meeting with port stakeholders to  discuss what will happen in the event of a strike, and what will happen once work begins again. Those stakeholders include: labor, the ocean carriers, US Coast Guard, US Customs and Border Protection, operations, motor carriers, harbor pilots and tug companies.