As union dockworkers commenced their strike against employers at East and Gulf Coast ports early Tuesday morning, reports of panic-buying at supermarkets began to spread rapidly across social media. Video clips shared by users on X and Facebook depicted scenes of people rushing to purchase essential items such as water, toilet paper, and paper towels at grocery stores and retailers nationwide. Photographer and author Denise Van Patten shared a video on X, noting, "Are people already panic buying because of the Port Strike? Here are the grocery shelves in the water section at my local Kroger this morning. I realize that we are probably also low on water due to the Helene aftermath in East Tennessee, but still not great to see this already." Similarly, Micheal Coker posted on X, "Well the panic buying is in full swing in my little town in South Carolina. Sam’s at 8:30 a.m., no water. Same at Walmart and grocery stores. Next will be toilet paper." The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) is leading the strike against its United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) employers, seeking a new master contract. Negotiations between the two parties continued until late Monday night, with the union's strike deadline expiring at midnight. Key points of contention in the negotiations include wages, benefits, and regulations concerning port automation. The ILA stated that its members rejected USMX's most recent wage increase proposal, which offered a 50% raise over six years for a new contract.