International Longshoremen’s Association workers at the Port of Wilmington went on strike Tuesday amid broader work stoppages at ports on the East and Gulf coasts.

The ILA and the United States Maritime Alliance Ltd., an entity that represents container carriers, terminal operators and port associations, failed to agree on a new contract before the previous contract expired at midnight on Monday.

In Wilmington, local ILA members began picketing around 5 a.m. on Tuesday, according to Gregory Washington, president of ILA Local 1426. More than 100 members gathered on Tuesday morning, many wearing shirts reading “In solidarity with securing a strong contract” and holding signs. The local ILA has about 400 members, Washington said.

He said the strike adds pressure to the negotiations. He hopes a new contract will bring higher wages and protect port jobs from automation in the future. He’s hopeful negotiations will wrap up quickly and members of the ILA can return to work.

“When they talk about the shelves not having any food on it, or different things is not available because we're not working, we hurt too,” Washington said. “I go to that same store they go to when I look for some eggs or some whatever I'm looking for – it's not there for me either.”

Charles Seaton, president of Local 1766, has been working full-time at the Port of Wilmington since 1980. He wants the contract to protect clerical jobs like his from automation in the future and raises across the board.

“We got $4 in wage (raises) over the last six years, and that's not a whole lot of money,” Seaton said.

In a statement, N.C. State Ports Executive Director Brian Clark said ports officials are “hopeful that both parties will return to the negotiating table and reach an agreement that allows all the ports of the East and Gulf Coast to resume operations.”

N.C. Ports is recognizing the work stoppage and following a contingency plan, which it issued last week. Port employees working in areas affected by the strike will be temporarily reassigned to other areas, as needed, according to Clark.

The Port of Wilmington’s South (Container) Gate is closed for the pickup or delivery of cargo until an agreement is reached, and no container vessel operations will be conducted until further notice. No intermodal rail cargo will be worked on or off of the rail at the Port of Wilmington, according to Clark’s statement.

The Port of Wilmington’s North Gate and the Port of Morehead City will be operating on a normal schedule for general cargo operations. Tenant operations and general cargo yard operations will continue as normal in both ports. No general cargo vessel operations will be conducted until further notice.