From an article called “Longshore union demands jobs loading tunnel dirt” in the Seattle Times:
Longshoremen are mulling their options to resist what they consider a take-away of waterfront jobs by the Highway 99 tunnel contractors.”Just like ILWU doesn’t go up there and build skyscrapers, nor should operating engineers go and do longshore work.” — Cam Williams, President, ILWU Local 19
The site is the Port of Seattle’s Terminal 46, alongside the pit where giant tunnel drill “Bertha” began its journey toward downtown on Tuesday. Four jobs loading the barges, for two shifts a day, are at stake.
Current plans are to employ two operating engineers and two carpenters, instead of the longshoremen who for generations have moved goods across the West Coast docks.
It’s unclear how the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) might react, whether with a lawsuit, picketing or even direct obstruction.
“I’m not ruling anything out at this point,” said Cameron Williams, president of ILWU Local 19 in Seattle. “The ILWU’s going to protect traditional longshore work.”
