From the Columbian: ”Clabaugh told commissioners the union has watched for five months as United Grain brings in ‘vanload after vanload’ of union-breaking, out-of-state security and replacement workers to do the work ‘of our locked-out membership.’ It’s the first time in his career as a Longshoreman, Clabaugh said, that at the ‘Port of Possibility,’ we are considered a ‘low work opportunity port.’ That means ‘the port that my family and neighbors helped build can’t supply our 200 members with three days of work a week.’ ” Photo of scab workers crossing Local 4’s picket line by Jennifer Sargent, June 14.
“It’s time to start supporting American workers” over a foreign corporation’s profits, said Cager Clabaugh, president of ILWU Local 4. “It’s time to stand up for the men and women of this community who pay their taxes to this port in hopes that their families and neighbors will benefit from their investment.”
Clabaugh was among many ILWU members who attended the commissioners’ regular public hearing Tuesday. Several other Longshore workers spoke. Others clapped in support of their fellow union members’ remarks. Commissioner Brian Wolfe said he welcomed the ILWU’s testimony, saying “we’ll continue to work with you, Cager.”
Kathy Clark, the wife of Brad Clark, a former local ILWU president who was arrested for trespassing in the disputed area, told commissioners Tuesday that her husband is barred by law from making his own statement due to the threat of being re-arrested. So she read from a statement from him.