The following letter to the editor was published Saturday in the Daily News in Longview, WA:
It looks like EGT Development’s CEO Larry Clarke made a very clever move in his quest to hire nonunion workers for 50 jobs at its terminal at the Port of Longview. This battle closely resembles a chess game. Clarke’s latest move to hire a different union to man the work at the terminal is an effort to pit one union against another. Now, instead of focusing the International Longshore and Warehouse Union’s efforts on EGT’s earnings, in the multimillions yearly, they created a distraction.
Meanwhile, this CEO from a large corporation has decided to change the way we operate in Cowlitz County. Some things could use some change, I agree. I would hope that the residents of Cowlitz County would see this CEO from EGT is not looking out for the best interests of the residents of Cowlitz County — he’s looking out for EGT’s interests. Lowering our standard of living or pitting one union against another is just an attempt to cause hate and discontent. This is not the kind of change we need in Cowlitz County.
Jeff Washburn
Castle Rock, WA