The longshoremen strike, affecting every major port on the East Coast and Gulf Coast, will potentially cost billions.

With a strike deadline looming, the union for 45,000 dockworkers and the group representing East and Gulf Coast ports have exchanged wage offers, leaving a ray of hope that a deal can be reached without a major work stoppage.

There are about 160 ILA workers in Boston, but the closure could affect roughly 12,000 jobs - including truck drivers, delivery workers, tugboat drivers, and more. At its peak, a strike could mean roughly $7 million in lost wages per week. Its effect on store shelves will depend on its length.

The union representing U.S. dockworkers has signaled that 45,000 of its members will walk off the job at midnight, kicking off a<a class="excerpt-read-more" href=" More