Brown bananas, crowded ports, empty shelves: What to expect if there’s a big dockworkers strike in the US

Container ships could get stuck at the nation's East Coast and Gulf Coast ports, while West Coast ports might be disrupted by rerouted cargo. AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton

Whether you’re buying a can of sardines or a screwdriver, getting products to consumers requires that supply chains function well.

The availability of labor is essential in each link of the supply chain. That includes the workers who make sure that your tinned fish and handy tools smoothly journey from their point of origin to where they’ll wind up, whether it’s a supermarket, hardware store or your front door.