Tag: ILWU

Big Grain Shuts Out Longshoremen Struggling for Workplace Equity

Story and photos by Pete Shaw Columbia Grain locked out ILWU Local 8’s grain handlers on May 4 in Portland, accusing them of “engaging in inside game’ tactics, including slowdowns, work-to-rule, and demands for repeated inspections of the same equipment – all designed to negatively impact Columbia Grain’s operations.” Late the next day, twenty of…

ILWU Strength Imperiled by Dangerous Course

Story and photos by Pete Shaw A crowd of over 200 Longshore workers, other union members, and community supporters rallied at Esther Short Park in Vancouver, WA, on March 8 in support of ILWU Local 4 grain handlers locked out of their jobs by United Grain Corporation in late February. After some speeches, the assembly,…

Longshore Struggle Brews On Both Coasts: Trouble in the Northwest

By Mark Vorpahl Second of two parts In the Northwest, at the terminals on the Columbia River, Puget Sound, and Portland, Oregon, the membership of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) are on the defensive against the Northwest Grain Handlers Association (NWGHA). The conflict involves nearly 3,000 workers at terminals that handle a quarter…

Longshore Struggle Brews On Both Coasts

By Mark Vorpahl First of two parts It’s a familiar pattern: those on top of the economic ladder enjoy massive profits while expecting workers to sacrifice even more for the “greater good.” This storyline weaves itself into every justification for anti-worker policies. From Washington’s potential Grand Bargain that would cut trillions from needed social programs,…

Threat to ILWU Rallying Point for All Workers

Story and photos by Pete Shaw The contract being offered to the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) by the Pacific Northwest Grain Handlers Association (PNGHA) has little effect on wages, but seeks vast changes to workplace rules, particularly those dealing with hiring and safety. Though the contract signing deadline of November 28 has been…

Taking the Long View on Longview

By Eric Gee We had started on a Saturday night, only a handful of us talking back and forth on email, and it went on well into the dark hours of Sunday morning–type email address, copy, paste, send, type email address, copy, paste, send, again and again until my fingers were sore. I was one…

A Contract is a Contract: Clarifying the ILWU/EGT Outcome in Longview

by Chris Lowe A contract is a contract… In a previous item in The Occupier, Lester Macgurdy argued that we should not exaggerate the victory achieved by ILWU Local 21 in Longview in their struggle against union-busting and scab labor employed by EGT/Bunge. Nor should we overblow Occupy’s achievement in affecting the outcome, lest we…

ILWU and EGT — The Victory That Wasn’t

by Lester Macgurdy “Immediately upon execution of this Agreement, the ILWU Entities shall immediately cease all action directed against EGT (including, but not limited to picketing and any other form of disruptive activity), its partners, members, and their affiliates and employees, and anyone doing business with them, and shall actively discourage any other person or…

Occupy and ILWU Declare Victory as Contract Finalized with EGT

by Cate Patricolo After tense months of speculation, Occupy organizers finally declare victory, as the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the Export Grain Terminal (EGT) operating at Local Port 21 in Longview, WA have finalized a collective bargaining contract. The contract was signed by representatives of both parties on February 10, 2012, and…

Victory? Inching toward possible agreement between ILWU & EGT

by Adam Rothstein ***We’ve heard conflicting statements about the accuracy of the original article. The article below reflects our most current knowledge. We’re awaiting updates and will report as soon as they are available.*** Sources close to the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 21 in Longview, Washington say that West Coast Occupations and all…