TACOMA, WA (October 7, 2011) — The U.S. District Court in Tacoma today made a specific finding that EGT’s lease at the port of Longview incorporates the ILWU Local 21 working agreement, explaining on Page 9 of today’s decision:
“Here, the parties were acutely aware of the Working Agreement, and of the Port’s (and the ILWU’s) belief that it established union longshore jurisdiction over the property to be leased – both on the docks and on the land side of the facility. The Working Agreement is clearly identified and referenced in Exhibit G-2, which in turn is incorporated into Exhibit G, which in turn is incorporated by reference into the lease by Section 29.1, and is referenced in Section 6.3.”
The court will be issuing further orders consistent with its ruling.
ILWU Coast Committeeman Leal Sundet said:
The foreign owners of EGT knew full well prior to coming to Longview that the Northwest grain industry is stable and productive because of its 80-year relationship with the men and women of the ILWU. EGT is trying to disrupt the positive relationship that the ILWU has in every other grain terminal, and EGT’s lawsuit against the Port of Longview shows that the company doesn’t mind shifting more legal costs to Cowlitz County taxpayers.
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