LONGVIEW, WA (March 20, 2012) – Last week, under the threat of felony charges, ILWU Local 21 President Dan Coffman pled guilty to three simple misdemeanors related to last summer’s labor dispute with EGT. The charges are criminal trespass in the second degree. Mr. Coffman entered these pleas because of the threat by the Cowlitz County Prosecuting Attorney that felony charges stemming from the peaceful demonstration at the EGT facility on July 11th would be filed unless he pled to the simple misdemeanors.
Several other ILWU members have pled guilty to minor charges to avoid the Prosecutor’s threats of serious felonies.
“The ILWU believes that the threat of felony charges from the events of July 11th are spurious and are being unfairly used to coerce guilty pleas for conduct involving the expression of First Amendment rights,” said Leal Sundet, ILWU Coast Committeeman.
