ILWU Local 21 longshore workers continue to gain strong support for their fight to to make EGT honor its commitment to hire ILWU workers at the Port of Longview. On Saturday, August 6, the Washington State Labor Council passed the following resolution with a unanimous vote:
Whereas, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union has had a rich history of representing workers on the west coast waterfronts over the last 78 years, and
Whereas, the plight of the ILWU, as with many other unions, has been met with difficult negotiations, protest and in some cases, the murder of union members for jurisdiction, and
Whereas, jurisdiction is the bedrock that all unions covet and shall not fall to the auspices of greed nor to the failure to respect other unions hard fought efforts, and
Whereas, the Port of Longview and the Export Grain Terminal (EGT) have a signed agreement that all cargo work within the leased boundaries of the Port of Longview will be done with the ILWU labor, and
Whereas, the EGT has chosen not to recognize this signed document but to sue over its content, stop good faith negotiations, and contract with a local of another union, and
Whereas, the ILWU stands ready and committed to continue negotiations and move cargo as directed by all current and future employers, therefore be it
Resolved that the Washington State Labor Council support the ILWU with its continuing efforts of jurisdiction with EGT at the Port of Longview, and be it further
Resolved that the Washington State Labor Council reaffirm its commitment and recognition for all union affiliates to organize within the jurisdictions that they hold. As such, let it be written once again that the 2011 Washington State Labor Council will not be one where unions are adversarial to each other, but act in unity to bring living wage jobs, a higher standard of living and safe working conditions for all workers in the state of Washington.
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