Officials at 14 ports along the US East and Gulf Coasts were making last-minute preparations on Monday for a likely labor strike that could drag on the U.S. economy just ahead of a presidential election -- despite last-minute talks.
Business group United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) announced late in the day that counter-offers had been exchanged with the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA), but tens of thousands of dockworkers could still walk off the job after midnight at the expiration of their six-year contract unless more concrete progress was made.
