A lengthy article in the Daily News in Longview outlines ILWU Local 21’s fight to protect their jurisdiction at the Port of Longview. Excerpts below, or read the original article at this link.
Tensions have cooled outside the EGT terminal gates this month, but union dock workers are maintaining a 24-hour picket.
The peace has been easier to keep in recent weeks because the facility has not received grain shipments since hundreds of longshoremen blocked an incoming train July 15. Burlington Northern Santa Fe has suspended all grain trains to EGT for safety reasons during the dispute.
For now, the ILWU is working with the Port of Longview to schedule an informational rally within a month. The union successfully lobbied the Oregon AFL-CIO and the Washington State Labor Council to pass largely symbolic resolutions condemning EGT and Local 701. Dozens of businesses in Longview and Kelso have posted signs and reader board message in support of ILWU Local 21.
ILWU Local 21 President Dan Coffman said, “The ILWU is not going away in this. We will fight to the end to secure what is rightfully our turf.”