Shoppers at a Staten Island Costco have begun panic buying essentials such as toilet paper and paper towels in response to the ongoing dockworkers’ strike that has halted operations at dozens of East and Gulf Coast ports. Despite experts assuring the public that paper products will not be affected by the strike, videos show empty shelves at the Richmond Avenue Costco, with only a few pallets of tissues remaining.
One shopper, identified as Josephine, explained that people were concerned about the potential economic fallout from the strike, with many stocking up on items like milk, bread, and paper products. While she wasn’t overly concerned yet, she expressed worry about the strike’s impact in the coming weeks, especially as the holiday season approaches.
Although panic buying of toilet paper is unnecessary, as the majority of U.S. toilet paper is produced domestically or imported from neighboring countries via land routes, the strike is expected to affect perishable goods, electronics, and other imported items. President Biden has urged the union and port managers to reach a new collective bargaining agreement, but has declined to use federal power to intervene in the strike, which has now entered its third day.
The strike, led by the International Longshoremen’s Association and its 50,000 members, is focused on demands for higher wages and a ban on automation at ports. If the work stoppage continues, economists warn of potential shortages and price hikes for a variety of goods, including auto parts, electronics, and imported food and beverages.