ILWU Port of Longview Update

EGT has recognized Local 21 of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) as the sole bargaining representative for workers at its new grain terminal in Longview, Washington, Working In These Times reported this week, bringing to an end EGT’s attempt to open the first non-union port terminal on the West Coast.

Workers at the terminal signed union authorization cards on January 30 and 31 and an arbitrator has verified their authenticity. EGT and the ILWU agreed to negotiate a contract to finalize the deal.

The agreement came after mediation by Washington Governor Christine Gregoire on the eve of a showdown between union members and their supporters who planned to blockade a Coast Guard protected grain ship due to arrive at the EGT terminal this month. Other actions over the past year have included blockades of trains delivering grain to the terminal, as well as pickets and demonstrations that were met with extreme police violence and over 100 arrests.

In related news, the Left Labor Reporter wrote earlier this week that a jury has found four women not guilty of blocking a train at the EGT grain terminal last September, bringing to six the total number of acquittals of ILWU members and their supporters (or 100% of the cases brought to trial so far).

The union-recognition victory for Local 21 can be attributed to their militancy and perseverance in the face of police violence and employer intransigence, as well as the solidarity of other locals. ILWU members at the Port of Tacoma and Vancouver, for example, went out on wildcat strikes, while workers shut down ports up and down the West Coast at various times in solidarity with Local 21. OWS activists also attempted to shut down West Coast ports in support of the Local 21, succeeding in halting activity at several Oakland terminals.

Sadly, but not surprisingly, ILWU International President Robert McEllrath used the settlement as an opportunity to portray EGT as a good and honest corporate friend, saying “we are committed to developing a long-term relationship with EGT."

While this sentiment was no doubt intended to help heal some of divisiveness and anger in the community of Longview and to encourage rank and file support for upcoming contract negotiations, it should be remembered by all workers that the boss is never a true friend and any long-term relationship is necessarily one of subservience.

Employees’ interests are irrelevant unless they coincide with increased profits for shareholders and executives. Any compromises EGT makes during contract negotiations will be made purely on a cost-benefit basis. For example, it was cheaper to hire Local 21 members and to recognize their union than to face continued work stoppages, blockades and legal battles.

What Local 21 members will get out of the deal is job security at the Port of Longview. In exchange, EGT will likely demand reduced wages, benefits and working conditions. Union members still face multiple criminal charges and the ILWU still faces $300,000 in fines for disobeying an injunction against illegal picketing issued by a federal judge. If EGT really was a friend, they would drop all pending charges and/or ask the courts to do so.

ILWU Shuts Down Tacoma and Seattle Ports, Smashes Longview Terminal

In response to police violence and employer intransigence, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) shut down the ports of Seattle and Tacoma, WA yesterday, the New York Times reported this morning. The ILWU has been in a year-long struggle at the new $200 million EGT Terminal in Longview, WA, where the employer (EGT) has been hiring non-union workers in violation of the ILWU contract. Earlier this week, union members blockaded trains from entering the port and were assaulted by police armed with rifles and rubber bullets, pepper spray and clubs. Many were arrested and injured.

Yesterday, around 500 longshoremen stormed the new terminal in Longview with baseball bats, smashing windows, damaging rail cars and dumping tons of grain from the cars, while over 1,000 more shut down the ports of Seattle and Tacoma by staying home from work (see the New York Times article). Both actions appeared to be wildcat actions, as the ILWU claimed they had not authorized them.

EGT, a joint venture between U.S., South Korean and Japanese companies, not surprisingly, condemned the actions, accusing the ILWU of criminal activity. However, no union members physically hurt anyone and their actions came in response to police violence against nonviolent demonstrators that did injure people, including women and children.

When capital is threatened, it is considered acceptable and necessary to use violence against workers, even when they are engaged in peaceful and nonviolent protest. However, it is considered unacceptable for workers to defend themselves or their working conditions in any way, particularly if it impinges on bosses’ ability to maximize profits and especially if it includes vandalism or sabotage even when it does not result in any physical injuries.

Judge Ronald Leighton of United States District Court in Tacoma expanded the existing restraining order to block all longshoremen in Washington from shutting down ports. (The previous restraining order only applied to the Longview local).

The original restraining order was issued on behalf of the National Labor Relations Board ostensibly because the ILWU was engaged in “unfair” labor practices by “improperly” harassing scabs. However, workers cannot allow the courts or the government to dictate how to protest their exploitation and expect to be successful. Also, one must wonder what kind of harassment (if any) the government would consider proper and allow?

Judge Leighton, who issued the original restraining order, said there was a peaceful way to protest. “It requires some restraint,” he said. “Your clients have none of that.” He added that they must also obey local laws (quoted from the New York Times article).

Yet the train blockade was both peaceful and nonviolent until the police came in with guns, pepper spray and clubs.

More importantly, labor cannot and should be limited to simply protesting, which is essentially just organized complaining. Rather, workers achieve success in struggles with their employers by halting profits through job actions like strikes, blockades, boycotts, slowdowns, working-to-rule, and sabotage.

The requirement to obey laws is absurd. The laws were written and are enforced primarily to protect private property and capital. The law overwhelming favors the wealthy and the bosses over the interests of working people. Laws are routinely written, interpreted and rewritten specifically to limit working peoples’ ability to protest, resist and fight their exploitation and oppression. It is completely justified and necessary to disregard and resist laws that are unjust or that harm us.

Argentine Teachers Blockade Oil Fields

Teachers in the Santa Cruz region of Argentina are blockading roads to the oilfields, disrupting operations for three multinational oil companies, the Teacher Solidarity blog reported today. The strike comes on the heels of an energy workers’ strike which halted production for 25 days.

The Santa Cruz Teachers Association (ADOSAC) is demanding a 50% pay increase. While this might seem like an aggressive demand, it should be pointed out that inflation has been at 25%, with food prices increasing 40% per year, and the lowest paid teachers in Argentina only earn $560 a month.