05:58 AM EDT, 10/03/2024 (MT Newswires) -- An alliance of shipping companies accused the International Longshoremen's Association late Wednesday of refusing to bargain in good faith as a major US dockworkers strike entered its third day.

Ships were stuck at sea outside US ports, threatening major shortages of food, machinery and other goods imported from abroad, Reuters reported, citing data from ship monitoring services.

The United States Maritime Alliance, a trade group representing shippers, said it wants to negotiate a new contract but is unable to return to the negotiating table because of preconditions demanded by the union. "Reaching an agreement will require negotiating - and our full focus is on how to return to the table to further discuss these vital components, many of which are intertwined," the industry group said. "We cannot agree to preconditions to return to bargaining."

The strike, which began Tuesday, has impacted 36 ports including those in New York, Baltimore and Houston, Reuters reported.

The union said Wednesday that its president and chief negotiator, Harold J. Daggett, has received threats of violence and has been doxxed by the New York Post, which published aerial photos of his New Jersey residence on Wednesday.