(The Center Square) – About 45,000 dockworkers are expected to strike for higher wages across three dozen East and Gulf coast ports at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday. There is potential for increased consumer costs on a wide range of goods just five weeks before Election Day, and 12 weeks before Christmas. Negotiations have been tense since June. The disagreement is between the International Longshore Association and Warehouse Union, which represents port workers across the country, and the U.S. Maritime Alliance, which represents terminal operators and ocean carriers. Wages of East and Gulf coast workers…