Unions=stay classy.

[joshh]

http://ap.stripes.com/dynamic/stories/U/US_WASHINGTON_UNION_CLASH?SITE=DCSAS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2011-09-09-11-24-57

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) -- Union activists aren't backing off demands to work at a new Washington state grain terminal after hundreds of Longshore workers stormed the facility, overwhelmed guards and dumped grain.

U.S. District Judge Ronald Leighton issued a preliminary injunction to restrict union activity, saying there was no defense for the aggressive tactics used in recent days.

Workers have been battling for the right to work at the new terminal in Longview. Protesters twice blocked the pathway of a train carrying grain to the terminal at the Port of Longview on Wednesday, and on Thursday hundreds of carried out the aggressive raid, police said.

The dispute halted work at four other Washington ports, including Seattle, on Thursday as hundreds of longshoremen refused to show up or walked off the job.

The Port of Longview was quiet Friday and Longshore workers were back on the job in Seattle.

Scott Mason, president of the ILWU Local 23 in Tacoma, said some of his members have joined in the Longview effort, but he doesn't believe they were involved in illegal activity. He blamed the company for provoking the response and warned that more activity could be coming.

"How long this fight has to go on is really in their court," he said.

Leighton said he felt like a paper tiger because the International Longshore and Warehouse Union clearly ignored a temporary restraining order he issued last week with similar limits. He scheduled a hearing for next Thursday to determine whether the union should be held in civil contempt.

Six guards were trapped for a couple of hours after at least 500 Longshoremen broke down gates about 4:30 a.m. Thursday and smashed windows in the guard shack, Longview Police Chief Jim Duscha said. He initially referred to the guards as "hostages," but later retracted that after the guards clarified no one had threatened them.

Most of the protesters returned to their union hall after cutting train brake lines and spilling grain from a car at the EGT terminal, Duscha said. They also pushed a private security vehicle into a ditch.

Police arrested 19 protesters as they blocked railroad tracks on Wednesday night, allowing the train to finally arrive at the terminal.

All because they hired workers from a different union....lol.

[Vedubin01]

They should be all placed in Jail for holding hostage and damage to property.

I also herd these guys on strike are now filing for Unemployment!


Utter Bullshit!

[Mlarsen]

This one hits home for me. Fuck these union douchebags. I had friends that were laid off a few months back that were long shoreman just because they don't have the seniority. Fuck these the assholes I hope they get denied when they file for unemployment.

[reelizmpro]

I am an ILWU member in a different local and our motto is an injury to one is an injury to all. If the work in Longview is covered under our jurisdiction then it is our work. We cannot allow one terminal to simply ignore jurisdiction and hire their own workforce (other union or not)...it's not how it works. Think about it...if this happens at one terminal, what's to stop other terminals? What's to stop hundreds of thousands from trying to get hired? What will end up happening is people will be "shaping up" to get work just like back in the early 1900's before the workers unionized. It's all about protecting our work. Is it dirty pool? ...perhaps but that's the only way to get the point across to the employers since they only care about dollars and cents.

I don't know how it is in WA but longshoremen don't get laid off. If they are new to the industry they are known as casuals and work as needed which could be once every week or once every month. In fact, every longshore worker works AS NEEDED. We are in essence day laborers which is why we have to protect the work that we have and have a seniority system.

[joshh]

I am an ILWU member in a different local and our motto is an injury to one is an injury to all. If the work in Longview is covered under our jurisdiction then it is our work. We cannot allow one terminal to simply ignore jurisdiction and hire their own workforce (other union or not)...it's not how it works. Think about it...if this happens at one terminal, what's to stop other terminals? What's to stop hundreds of thousands from trying to get hired? What will end up happening is people will be "shaping up" to get work just like back in the early 1900's before the workers unionized. It's all about protecting our work. Is it dirty pool? ...perhaps but that's the only way to get the point across to the employers since they only care about dollars and cents.

I don't know how it is in WA but longshoremen don't get laid off. If they are new to the industry they are known as casuals and work as needed which could be once every week or once every month. In fact, every longshore worker works AS NEEDED. We are in essence day laborers which is why we have to protect the work that we have and have a seniority system.

Interesting, that's the same bullshit that came out of e30e's mouth except i don't remember him condoning violence like you are. Are you also under paid?

[Sagaris]

OSHA = good
It protects the physical well-being of an employee.

Unions = lamesauce
OSHA provides the only kind of "protection" you could ever need, if you don't like how you are being treated at work then discuss it with the boss, if you can't come to some sort of resolution, then get a different job.

[joshh]

OSHA = good
It protects the physical well-being of an employee.

Unions = lamesauce
OSHA provides the only kind of "protection" you could ever need, if you don't like how you are being treated at work then discuss it with the boss, if you can't come to some sort of resolution, then get a different job.

Exactly.
It's the old way of thinking. Just like when Toyota came over here to teach us how to build cars and it didn't work out because the Union guys couldn't work with non-Union guys. The Union must protect itself...including all it's inefficiencies.

[reelizmpro]

Interesting, that's the same bullshit that came out of e30e's mouth except i don't remember him condoning violence like you are. Are you also under paid?

Bullshit? I don't BS. Condoning violence? I just gave a different perspective. The longshoreman aren't asking for raises are they? They just want to keep what is rightfully their work...their work. Is there anything else I'm missing? I sense some hate in your tone...why? Being underpaid is subjective. I'll ask you this...let's say you make $20/hr and your gang (10 others) helps move 30 containers an hour and the company makes $500 per container. Multiply that by thousands in every port and you get the idea. It's all relative. Who breathes the asbestos from the brake linings and other wear items? who lives in the polluted areas? who risks being ran over or crushed by containers and heavy equipment everyday? What's a limb worth?

[mrsleeve]

Lately I hate the fact that I hold a union book or 2. Guilty by association, even though I dont condone anything like this at all. There are better ways around this than violence and destruction destruction. It disgusts me just as much as you josh


I hang my head in shame to even be be associated with these people, even if the only commonality we have is the fact we are union employes.

[e30e]

The only thing I have in common with these guys is affiliation with a union organization of AFL-CIO. Not all unions are like this, signalmen union which I'm part of is for our trade only. Not sure why my name came up, I'm not for violence unless it's protecting me or my family.

[z31maniac]

Are you also under paid?

If you lack the education or skills to get a decent paying job, then aquire them. But you constantly bemoaning what others earn is laughable.

[e30e]

If you lack the education or skills to get a decent paying job, then aquire them. But you constantly bemoaning what others earn is laughable.

Being under paid is a state of mind and opinion. With that goes the saying opinions are like ..... I believe I'm under paid because I do the work of someone making 5 dollars an hour more but because the company won't "promote" me, which is send me to school; I'm not paid there wage. It's something I complain about, but much like anyone with a job right now; I'm happy to have a job. Much of my job like any job could be sub-contracted to an illegal who would do you job for 5 bucks an hour; it just so happens between the government rules, union agreed contracts, and my company wanting the job done correctly its not done by an illegal for 5 bucks an hour......Just my opinion though.

[cale]

Are contracts in place that state the work is the Unions, are they breaking some law by hiring different workers? By the sound of the article, it seems as though the union workers just make a bunch of noise and hold the companies by the balls until they get what they want...not what is rightfully theirs.

[reelizmpro]

It's always been union work and of course the article is one sided. What they want is to keep their jobs...not a raise. Really quick, keep in mind there are people who are 3-4th generation Union. Nothing was given to us. People have died for what we have today and we have die hard members who aren't afraid to go to jail over what they believe either. Stand for something or fall for anything.

[cale]

So no, there is nothing in writing saying the companies are not allowed to hire outside the union....yes or no?