The Port of Portland proposes to pay as much as $4.7 million to the operator of its container terminal to cover losses from longshore labor problems, though the Port boss calls it “a complete waste” and a longshore union leader describes it as an abuse of public funds.
But Port managers want their commissioners to approve the payment today, saying they want to cover some of the losses incurred by ICTSI Oregon Inc., which operates the terminal where labor disputes have backed up cargo this summer.
Port commissioners will consider the proposed payment of as much as $4,664,356 during their monthly public meeting today [Wednesday, August 8] at 9:30 a.m. in the Port’s headquarters, 7200 N.E. Airport Way.
Leal Sundet, an ILWU coast committeeman, issued a statement blasting the payment.
“The Port of Portland has no business using taxpayer dollars to subsidize private enterprise,” Sundet said. “The Port is not an operating partner with ICTSI, and ICTSI should be fully responsible for its operations, including labor relations, which is part of doing business in a competitive environment.”
