Vice President Kamala Harris came out in support of the nations striking dockworkers Wednesday, casting the work stoppage that shut down ports from Maine to Texas as a fight for fairness.

Foreign-owned shipping companies have made record profits and executive compensation has grown, the Democratic presidential nominee said in a statement . The Longshoremen, who play a vital role transporting essential goods across America, deserve a fair share of these record profits.

Tens of thousands of workers walked off the job Tuesday morning amid a contract dispute with port employers. Their union, the International Longshoremens Association, is calling for significant raises and protections against automation in a new six-year deal. A prolonged strike could end up squeezing the economy just as the November election approaches, putting Harris and President Joe Biden s administration in a tricky spot.

But so far, the White House has resisted calls to intervene in the dispute and force workers back on the job in the name of national security. Biden has said he believes in the collective bargaining process and that the two sides need to sort out their differences at the negotiating table.