THE leader of the union representing dockworkers in the United States who have closed down the major ports of the country’s eastern seaboard insisted on Tuesday that he was “not playing games” on the strike.

President of the International Longshoremen’s Association Harold Daggett told striking dockers on a picket line in New Jersey that the ports will stay closed until the union’s demands over pay and the introduction of artificial intelligence are met.

The strike of 45,000 workers on the country’s east and gulf coasts is expected to cost the US economy $5 billion a day (£4bn).

The union is claiming a 77 per cent pay rise over the six years of the new contract they are negotiating with the dock employers.

Mr Daggett said that it’s necessary to make up for inflation and years of small raises. 

On Monday evening, the employers said it had increased its offer to a 50 per cent raise over six years pledged to keep limits on automation in place from the old contract. The alliance also said its offer tripled employer contributions to retirement plans and strengthened health care options.

The new offer was rejected by the union and the strike began on Tuesday morning.

Mr Daggett said: “We are going to fight for it and we’re going to win or this port will never open up again. I’m not playing games here.

“I’m going to fight for it because those greedy companies are making billions of dollars and they don’t want us to share.”

US President Joe Biden has so far refused calls by some of the country’s business groups to intervene. 

He said: “It’s only fair that workers who put themselves at risk during the pandemic to keep the ports open, see a meaningful increase in their wages.”

But Mr Daggett said there was “nothing” so far to bring the two sides together to end the strike.