Briar said the Inland Boatman's Union -- the marine division of the International Longshore Workers Union -- represents multiple different workgroups throughout Alaska, including harbormasters, those who work on tugs and barges and others doing exactly the kind of work the Delta Western fuel supply workers were doing. He said the picket line was aimed at bringing attention to what workers say are violations of the law by Delta Western. Photo by Pipa Escalante

The Inland Boatman’s Union — the marine division of the International Longshore Workers Union — represents multiple different workgroups throughout Alaska, including harbormasters, those who work on tugs and barges and others doing exactly the kind of work the Delta Western fuel supply workers were doing. Union organizer Jon Briar said the picket line was aimed at bringing attention to what workers say are violations of the law by Delta Western.

Employees at Delta Western’s Unalaska fuel dock walked off the job Sunday afternoon in an organized protest against what they called illegal harassment and retaliation against union supporters.

Union organizer Jon Briar of the Inland Boatman’s Union said the majority of the dozen or so employees at Delta Western have come together as a union in recent months after they say efforts to address issues with management were unsuccessful. The attempt to unionize was met with threats of negatively changing workplace conditions as well as threats to take away retirement benefits from anyone who was a union supporter, Briar said.

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