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Longshore workers strike has San Antonio residents panic buying toilet paper

About 90% of toilet paper sold here is produced in the U.S., so it won't be affected by the strike.

By Michael Karlis on Thu, Oct 3, 2024 at 12:06 pm

X / AnarchoDarling

X user @AnarchoDarling posted photos of barren shelves in the toilet paper aisle at the H-E-B at Bandera and Loop 1604 on Tuesday.

San Antonio residents panicked by the national longshore workers' strike are buying up toilet paper at H-E-B as the dispute enters its third day, social media posts show.

Images that harken back to the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic show grocery store toilet paper aisles ... ahem ... wiped clean. This despite repeated assurances from economists and retailers that the labor stoppage won't effect the supply of bathroom tissue, which is largely produced in the U.S.

San Antonio X user @AnarchoDarling posted a photo of empty shelves at the H-E-B on Bandera Road and Loop 1604.

HEB+ on Bandera/1604 San Antonio pic.twitter.com/aOEuj8W8TR
— Nikki Darling (@AnarchoDarling) October 2, 2024

Meanwhile, X user @texican_raydio also posted photos of barren racks at a different San Antonio H-E-B location.

San Antonio pic.twitter.com/vZf5bY42Xf
— Guey Mysterio (@texican_raydio) October 3, 2024

Reddit user @Hot-Promotion2768 also had trouble finding household necessities at the H-E-B off Potranco Road, per a post on the R/SanAntonio page.

Potranco and 211
byu/Hot-Promotion2768 insanantonio

People began panic buying essentials, especially toilet paper, after the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) went on strike Tuesday, paralyzing key ports, including New York, Charleston and Houston.

Shoppers could start seeing a shortage of items, including seafood, coffee, and imported fruits and vegetables in about 2-3 weeks if the dispute between the Longshoreman's Union and the United States Maritime Alliance isn't resolved quickly, American Farm Bureau Federation economist Daniel Munch told CBS MoneyWatch on Thursday.

Even so, about 90% of toilet paper for sale domestically is produced in the U.S., according to CNN. In other words, people will likely be able to continue to take care of their bathroom needs regardless of how long the strike lasts.

What's more, San Antonio-based H-E-B, in a statement Tuesday, assured customers that the strike won't impact most items.

"Our stores are receiving shipments and are in a strong position that allows our Partners to continue to restock shelves throughout the day."

pic.twitter.com/usAOJlR4qe
— H-E-B Newsroom (@HEBNewsroom) October 1, 2024

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About The Author

Michael Karlis

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Michael Karlis is a Staff Writer at the San Antonio Current. He is a graduate of American University in Washington, D.C., whose work has been featured in Salon, Alternet, Creative Loafing Tampa Bay, Orlando Weekly, NewsBreak, 420 Magazine and Mexico Travel Today. He reports primarily on breaking news, politics...