The International Longshoremen's Association union, representing 45,000 workers at major container ports from Texas to Maine, will begin two days of meetings on Wednesday to review wage demands and prepare for a potential strike on Oct. 1.Formal talks have reached an impasse as the union and the United States Maritime Alliance employer group wrangle over pay, automation, healthcare and retirement benefits.A source familiar with the negotiations said the ILA has asked for a 77% pay bump over the life of the new contract.