The International Longshoremen's Association says that dock workers at the Port of New York and New Jersey have authorized a strike if a contract agreement is not reached by the end of the month. The union, which represents about 4,700 workers at the port, says that negotiations broke down around pay and overtime rules for workers. The port is the busiest on the East Coast, and a strike could cause huge issues for retailers. Talks broke down last week, and no new negotiations have been scheduled.
See "Retailers, ports brace for possible strike by dock workers on East Coast", The Associated Press, The Washington Post, August 29, 2012