A WAR of words broke out between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and employer’s body the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) as dockers walked out yesterday at 36 ports on the country’s east coast. 

The strike by around 45,000 workers is expected to cost the US economy $5 billion (£4bn) a day. 

The union accused the USMX, which represents companies operating in ocean terminals and port operators, of making “low-balled” pay offers and violating the previous contract by introducing automation at several US ports.