In his decision, U.S. District Judge Ronald Leighton said it’s clear that EGT and the port wanted to reach a lease deal while deferring questions about the union until later. He said the parties were acutely aware of the working agreement during discussions and that the lease references that working agreement through its exhibits.

He said the arbitrator should take up the issues of legality, although he called his conclusion tentative and asked the parties for opinions on how they want to proceed.

“EGT is trying to disrupt the positive relationship that the ILWU has in every other grain terminal,” said Leal Sundet, ILWU coast committeeman, in a written statement.

From the Associated Press