A strike at US East Coast ports is set to begin on Tuesday, the union said

A port strike on the US East Coast and Gulf of Mexico will begin Tuesday, the International Longshoremen's Association union said Sunday, signaling a move that could cause delays and disrupt supply chains.

“The United States Maritime Alliance … refuses to address half a century of wage subjugation,” the union said in a statement. The United States Maritime Alliance, known as USMX, represents employers in the longshore industry on the East and Gulf Coasts.

If union members walk off the job at ports stretching from Maine to Texas, it will be the first coast-wide ILA strike since 1977.

It was unclear if any talks were underway or planned before Monday's midnight deadline.

Earlier, President Joe Biden said he did not intend to intervene to prevent a walkout if dock workers failed to secure a new contract by the Oct. 1 deadline.

“This is collective bargaining. I don't believe in Taft-Hartley,” he told reporters.

Presidents can intervene in labor disputes that threaten national security or safety by imposing an 80-day cooling-off period under the federal Taft-Hartley Act.