President of the International Longshormen’s Association Harold Dagget spoke to News 12 about the dockworkers strike.

The strike is affecting ports all along the East and Gulf coasts.

"If we have to be out here a month or two months, this world will collapse. Blame them, don't blame me, blame them," said Dagget.

Workers began walking picket lines early Tuesday in a strike over wages and the ports’ use of automation, though some progress had been reported in the latest contract talks. The contract between the ports and about 45,000 members of the International Longshoremen’s Association expired at midnight.