The Strike Club has warned that if the looming threat of a stevedores’ strike at 14 ports along the US east and Gulf coasts becomes a reality, it could be the precursor of further labour unrest, not only in the US but elsewhere, with extremely damaging repercussions for shipowners and charterers and, indeed, for the world economy. US seafarers have now joined forces with the stevedores under a new partnership, the Maritime Labour Alliance, which has received a message of support from the International Transport Workers’ Federation, according to media reports. The imminent resumption of critical negotiations between employers and unions will involve a number of questions and demands which must be resolved before the end of this month when the current agreement expires.