Dockworkers begin picketing in Philadelphia after strike called at ports along the East Coast

Dockworkers began picketing at the Port of Philadelphia early Tuesday morning, hours after the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) announced its workers would go on strike .

The strike, which began at 12:01 a.m., is impacting all major ports along the East Coast. More than 45,000 workers from Texas to Maine are rallying for better pay and job security .

In a statement posted on social media , the ILA said a proposal made by United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) on Monday "fell far short of what ILA rank-and-file members are demanding in wages and protections against automation." The USMX is a shipping industry group that represents terminal operators and ocean carriers.

"We are prepared to fight as long as necessary, to stay out on strike for whatever period of time it takes, to get the wages and protections against automation our ILA members deserve," union President Harold Daggett said in the statement.

Before the sun came up Tuesday, workers on the picket lines outside the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal in South Philadelphia carried signs with messages like, "No Work Without a Fair Contract," and "Automation Hurts Families: ILSA Stands for Job Protection."

Ports in New York and New Jersey and Wilmington, Delaware are also closed due to the strike.

The last time the port workers on the East and Gulf coasts went on strike was nearly 50 years ago in 1977.

One day before the strike, the Port of Philadelphia was buzzing as officials rushed to offload ships .

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro had said Monday that he hoped both sides were working toward a deal, and urged the union and USMX to "stay at the table."

This is a developing story. CBS News Philadelphia will update this as more information becomes available.