Judge Warns Washington Union To Halt Illegal Tactics

[The Northerner]

A federal judge is ordering union protesters to halt illegal activity as they battle for the right to work at a new grain terminal in Washington state.

U.S. District Judge Ronald Leighton issued a preliminary injunction to restrict union activity, saying on Thursday there was no defense for the aggressive tactics used in recent days. Protesters blocked the pathway of a train twice on Wednesday, and police say they broke windows and dumped grain at the Port of Longview terminal on Thursday morning.

Leighton says he feels like a paper tiger because the union clearly ignored a temporary restraining order he issued last week with similar limits. He now wants to hold a hearing to determine whether the union should be held in civil contempt. Leighton says he fears someone is going to be seriously hurt.

Source: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=140290887


Hopefully this ruling will be ignored and another judge will uphold the union's protest.

[malaise]

1. What has he said about the Chamber of Commerce and

their tactics

[villager]

5. The illegal tactics of corporations are what we now call "the law of the land"

...which our "judges" are sworn to uphold...

[robdogbucky]

2. Only one point of view, eh?

ILWU Defies Court Order in Longview, Wash., Picketing

...EGT has completed construction of the $200 million facility but has yet to ship any grain. EGT earlier this year began negotiating with the ILWU to man the terminal, but later cut off negotiations and signed an agreement with General Construction Co. to staff the terminal. General Construction contracts with a different union.

The ILWU, which represents longshoremen at most West Coast ports, has a contract with the Port of Longview to represent workers there, the union stated. The ILWU has been demonstrating at the EGT terminal since July. Union protestors in July blocked a BNSF Railway train from bringing grain to the terminal for a test run. BNSF has not sent any trains to the EGT terminal since then.

The NLRB joined the fray last week, charging union picketers have engaged in harassment and misconduct.

The labor board went to court for a temporary restraining order. Judge Leighton granted the TRO, which only lasts for 10 days. A hearing is scheduled for Thursday, when the judge will determine if the restraining order should be made permanent...


http://www.joc.com/labor/ilwu-continue-strike-despite-r...



I would be pissed too.

[Generic Other]

6. Union busting is disgusting

Companies do not get to hire scab workers (even so-called union ones) and get away with it.

[sulphurdunn]

9. If I'm not mistaken

the ILWU has contracts will all West Coast ports, including British Colombia.

[robdogbucky]

3. Workers volunteer to “put their bodies on the line”

Workers volunteer to “put their bodies on the line” in effort to save good jobs in Longview, WA
September 7, 2011 7:43 pm


Hundreds of port workers stood on railroad tracks today at 4pm, blocking a train carrying grain to a foreign-owned loading facility in Longview, Washington. Workers took action to protest the failure by big grain companies to honor agreements with the local community to provide good jobs in Longview.

“Everyone came to the tracks on their own free will to stand up for justice and protect good jobs in this community, said ILWU President Bob McEllrath, who stood with the volunteers on Wednesday afternoon. “It shouldn’t be a crime to fight for good jobs in America.”

Police in riot gear charged the group of peaceful protesters, which included women and children, injuring several in the process. When volunteers stood their ground, police retreated and the train was backed-off. As of 6pm, it was unclear if the BNSF Railroad would continue to attempt another delivery or stand down.

The controversial grain terminal is owned and operated by EGT – a consortium of companies that includes North America, South Korea-based STX Pan Ocean and Japan-based Itochu Corporation...

http://www.ilwu.org/?p=2927

[Generic Other]

8. A South Korean company may think they own the docks on the West Coast

I would say they need to think again.

"Police in riot gear charged the group of peaceful protesters, which included women and children, injuring several in the process. When volunteers stood their ground, police retreated and the train was backed-off." May the spirits of the Wobblies protect them.

[ladywnch]

4. and so it begins.

I thought it would come from WI......the fight.

We will soon be back to the early teens and 20s with labor riots.....union v. non-union, union v. management goons. Yeah, someone IS going to get hurt. I fear MANY will end up getting hurt.......and yet, the revolution has to start somewhere.

[Generic Other]

7. This is where the Centralia Massacre happened in 1919

There are old men still alive who remember those days.