New Jersey
With dock worker strike looking ‘likely,’ plans underway for orderly shutdown of NJ ports
3-minute read
Video: We take you behind the scenes at Port Newark
New Jersey’s ports — among the busiest in the U.S. — face a pivotal moment, requiring innovation and collaboration along a complex supply chain
A looming strike by dock workers at ports along the East Coast now “looks likely,” a Port Authority official told the agency board Wednesday, and outlined steps the agency is taking should a strike shut down the Port of New York and New Jersey, which includes key facilities in Newark and Elizabeth.
The International Longshoremen’s Association has threatened to strike if a new contract with East Coast port terminal and shipping companies is not ironed out by the time the old contract expires Oct. 1.
That would shut down some of the busiest ports in the country, including the Port of New York and New Jersey — the nation’s second busiest — potentially disrupting the delivery of billions of dollars worth of consumer goods as the holiday shopping season approaches.
Story continues below photo gallery
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is not involved in negotiations between the ILA and the United States Maritime Alliance, or USMX, a group of shipping and port terminal companies.
But the Port Authority, which leases the space at the ports to the shipping companies, is working to bring in as many ships as possible in the next few weeks and planning out an orderly shutdown of the ports, said Beth Rooney, the Port Authority’s ports director.
Once a strike occurs, all activity involving loading and unloading cargo containers and automobiles will come to a halt, Rooney said. Cruise ships will continue to operate.
The ports are unloading about 20 large container ships a week, and Rooney said they expect 150,000 containers to be unloaded before a strike hits.
Some carriers on Wednesday started issuing orders to their customers to embargo cargo from being sent to the ports for export so containers doesn’t start piling up at the port terminals, Rooney said.
The items that would need to travel the furthest to New Jersey ports from the Midwest would receive embargo orders first.
More: NJ ports have been slow to modernize. Will they take the leap to control costs?
“Many importers — retailers and other companies — have been aware for months of the possibility of a strike, and have therefore pushed forward their importing schedule so that a lot of holiday goods are already in the country and safe from a strike,” said Peter Tirschwell vice president for maritime and trade at S&P Global.
In addition, shipping to ports on the West Coast has surged. But that rerouting process can drive up the cost of goods once they reach store shelves.
During a strike, container ships would moor offshore
Container ships with imports bound for Newark, Elizabeth and Staten Island, meanwhile, would end up mooring at designated sites in New York Harbor or off the coast while the strike lasts, or simply slow down, drift and loiter to ride the strike out in the Atlantic, Rooney said.
Once a strike was over, the U.S. Coast Guard, along with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, would coordinate the orderly arrival of waiting ships into the port facilities.
Rick Cotton, the Port Authority’s executive director, told the agency’s board on Wednesday that a strike “looks likely.”
The ILA union cut off contract talks in June after learning that a form of automation had been introduced at the Port of Mobile in Alabama, which they said violated the existing contract.
The USMX has said it has been unable to schedule new meetings with the union.
Could mean weeks of supply chain delays
A strike could impact key ports on the East and Gulf coasts, from Maine to Houston.
Tirschwell said that a strike of a few days could mean weeks of supply chain delays, while a strike lasting a week or longer would mean delays of over a month.
The ILA, based in North Bergen, represents 85,000 workers across the East and Gulf coasts.
Its leaders are seeking significant pay hikes for their members, saying they deserve a fair share of the profits that shipping and port terminal companies have made as cargo volume remains higher after the demand caused during the COVID-19 pandemic.
They also oppose efforts to automate the ports, which would reduce jobs for dock workers.
President Biden does not plan to intervene to prevent a strike at this time, Reuters has reported.
Presidents do have the authority to intervene in certain labor disputes by imposing an 80-day cooling-off period under the Taft-Hartley Act, forcing workers back on the job while negotiations continue.
“We’ve never invoked Taft-Hartley to break a strike and are not considering doing so now,” the Biden administration official told Reuters.
Staff writer Daniel Munoz contributed to this article.
This article contains some information from Reuters.
New Jersey
What to know about Freedom Fuel Network as Trump urges cheaper gas prices in Pennsylvania, NJ
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — There are 25 new Freedom Fuel Network gas stations opening across the Philadelphia area and South Jersey as Americans closely watch gas prices.
This comes after President Trump announced the privately-owned network on social media last week, saying it will help drivers save money at the pump.
There are 25 new Freedom Fuel gas stations opening across the Philadelphia area and South Jersey as Americans closely watch gas prices.
The first location in Dresher, Montgomery County, opened on Friday, with the price of $3.47 per gallon.
This cost was a nod to President Trump serving as the nation’s 47th president.
However, that price has already started to rise after the president announced new U.S. strikes, sending oil and gas prices higher.
Some of those locations with gas stations participating in the Freedom Fuel Network include Lansdowne, Bensalem and Pottstown in Pennsylvania; and Marlton in New Jersey.
Gas Calculator: Find out how much it costs to fill your tank
A White House official told ABC News the administration is not involved with the company and is not providing any funding or subsidies.
Instead, the company says it is cutting its own profit margins to offer lower prices.
Some drivers are applauding this move while others, including gas analysts, are skeptical.
“$3.47 a gallon is a Godsend, honestly,” said one consumer. “Great price because this was a Sunoco before and prices were a lot higher.”
“I want Americans to be asking, ‘Where is that money coming from? Why are corporations and businesses willing to subsidize gas 50-cents a gallon for people, to make President Trump look good,” said another consumer.
Trump is also encouraging other gas retailers to lower their prices. He has not identified the company behind Freedom Fuel, saying only that it’s a private retailer.
Action News is still working to learn how long these lower prices will last and whether more stations will open.
Copyright © 2026 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.
JAMESBURG, New Jersey (WABC) — When it comes to home deliveries, having your order stolen right off your doorstep can be infuriating, so one New Jersey man did it right.
Peter Tsistinas had his brand-new cell phone delivered to a so-called safe pickup site, designated by the seller, where it was stolen.
Delivery services can drop off your item at any number of safe locations, where you can later pick up your order. But as exclusive video obtained by 7 On Your Side shows, porch pirates are upping their game.
Captured on a security camera, a man calmly walks into the CVS store, asks for a delivery, shows an ID, signs for it, and walks off with a brand-new iPhone. There’s just one problem.
“They saw somebody that was not me getting my package,” said Tsistinas when asked what the police were seeing on the tape.
The real Peter, a popular DJ for hire, was dumbfounded. He chose the safe drop to avoid being porch pirated, but the thief still got the goods.
“Yeah, I actually paid extra for it. It wasn’t much. It was $7.99,” Tsistinas said.
Tsistinas got a notification from UPS that the phone was dropped off at 12:39 p.m., less than two hours later, he got a notice it was picked up.
But Tsistinas didn’t pick it up. It was the unknown suspect who went into the CVS, walking off with the brand-new iPhone for Peter’s son.
Tsistinas reported the crime to the police and alerted UPS, CVS and T-Mobile, which shipped the smartphone. The response to the DJ was what he called, “crickets.”
“I was watching, you know ABC News, and I saw 7 On Your Side and I’m like, ‘you know, you’re the first thing I thought of,’” Tsistinas said
7 On Your Side reached out to both CVS and the cell phone provider.
Within a week, T-Mobile responded, saying, “Our care team is working with Mr. Tsistinas directly to get him the device he ordered from us, and we’re working closely with CVS and our other partners to further protect our customers’ orders from theft. Our dedicated fraud, crime and logistics teams collaborate with vendors to address these issues and improve delivery processes.”
CVS also sent 7 On Your Side an official statement, saying, “We’ve connected with the customer and apologized for his experience. T-Mobile is now working directly with Mr. Tsistinas to help resolve the matter. Anyone picking up a UPS package at CVS Pharmacy must present identification matching the person and name on the package to be released. We’re working with the store team to help prevent similar situations from occurring in the future.”
After weeks of back and forth with the companies, Tsistinas could finally focus on his beats again.
“I paid almost $500 in deposit, and then it was going to be like so much per month. So, they just squashed all that,” Tsistinas said.
Referencing the Rolling Stones, he says he not only got his satisfaction, but also his money back.
“Nina, you’re the best!” Peter said.
Police are still looking for the suspect in the video and say he’s part of a crime ring. If you recognize him, call Jamesburg police in New Jersey.
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Copyright © 2026 WABC-TV. All Rights Reserved.
A police investigation took place at a Walmart in Cherry Hill, New Jersey on Wednesday morning and shoppers may have noticed an increased presence of officers at the shopping center, officials said.
On social media, the Cherry Hill Police Department alerted residents that an investigation was underway in a Walmart, located along Route 38 in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, at about 9 a.m. on Wednesday.
However, officials did not immediately detail the cause of this increased police presence, other than saying an investigation was underway and “the scene has been secured.”
Police were asking people to avoid the area, if possible, to allow officers the ability to complete this investigation.
However, as of about 10 a.m., police said on social media that the incident was resolved and there was no threat to the public.
OFFICIAL UPDATE: INCIDENT RESOLVED
The police activity at Walmart (500 Route 38) has been resolved without incident. There is no threat to the public.
Thank you to residents and motorists for their patience and cooperation while officers worked in the area. #CherryHillPD pic.twitter.com/668By2Ttht
— Cherry Hill Police Department (@CherryHillPD) July 8, 2026
As of about 10:15 a.m., police had not provided further information on the nature of this investigation, nor did they say if anyone was arrested through the course of this incident.
NBC10 is working to learn more.
This is a breaking news story. It will be updated as new information becomes available.
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