Heartland residents react to panic shopping from East Coast port strike

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KFVS) – The ongoing strike along the East Coast and Texas has some worried about what it could do to the economy.

The strike of the International Longshoremen’s Association is now on day three.

45,00 dockworkers from Maine to Texas continue their fight for higher wages and a ban on automation. Those ports handle roughly half of the nations’ cargo from ships.

Experts say a lengthy shutdown could have a wide ranging impact on consumer prices, and what’s available at the grocery store.

We talked to some local shoppers about the strike and what they had to say.

“No, I do not,” said Robbin Wilkes.

Some experts are worried about shoppers hitting the panic button from the East Coast port strike.

Wilkes said panic shopping isn’t her style, but she hoped the situation does not resemble the pandemic.

“When you have little ones, you know and you’re trying to feed them. And you go to the store and the shelves are empty, so you have to find other means of feeding your family, and especially young kids,” she explained.

Laura Finley also fears a repeat of 2020.

“It’s a big concern because we know what happened last time,” Finley said.

She said experiencing that type of panic with her husband was a wake-up call.

“We’ve been stocking up ever since that happened this time we’re only doing a little bit of toilet paper a little bit here because I know there are other families out there it’s just me and him here. And there are other families with children that need it more than we do,” she said.

While supply chain experts say items like beer, cars, and bananas are among the products that may be affected by the strike. Produce manager, Tammy Heavener, told us shoppers here in Sikeston are focused on the necessities.

“A lot of people are starting to panic like they did back in COVID, but it’s not that bad yet,” Heavener said. “Hopefully it won’t get that way, but they are stocking up on toilet paper, and paper towels.”

And she hoped shortages wouldn’t land at her grocery store.

“I don’t want anybody to be without and we try our hardest to have everything that we can get,” she said.

One of the products that faced shortages in 2020 was toilet paper. However, according to the Center for Land Use Interpretation, that was the result of demand outpacing the consistent and balanced flow of the product through the supply chain.

Copyright 2024 KFVS. All rights reserved.