-Shipping workers warned Wednesday that transport systems verge on collapse

-Letter issued by coalition of international unions described dire conditions

-Restrictions and delays imposed by pandemic protocols are delaying shipments

-Workers ask for sane protocols and easier access to vaccinations

-Supply chain crunch threatens to derail the busy holiday shopping season 

A coalition of unions that represent shipping workers around the world has warned of an imminent 'global transport systems collapse' due to lingering impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic.

In an open letter on Wednesday, the workers groups warned that fragmented and inconsistent pandemic restrictions around the world have thrown global shipping into chaos.

The warning comes as supply-chain backlogs leave scores of cargo ships idling outside US ports, exacerbating shortages caused by a national truck driver shortage that threatens to derail the Christmas shopping season.