Excerpts from The Oregonian:
The West Coast longshore union is blasting a review requested by Gov. John Kitzhaber of conditions at the Port of Portland’s container terminal before it even gets started.
The timing and nature of the longshore statement, which describes the Port’s probe as a case of “the fox guarding the hen house,” is further evidence of deeply toxic relations between the union and its adversaries: the Port and terminal operator ICTSI Oregon Inc.
Port officials are scrambling to hire a consultant and define the scope of the review. In response to questions Friday, Jennifer Sargent, a spokeswoman for the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, emailed a statement condemning the process.
“The Port and ICTSI collude on lawsuits against the union, and any report they commission will lack neutrality and produce whatever result they’re paying for,” Sargent said. “ICTSI has continually ignored the union’s suggestions for improvement, and the Port has not consulted with the union for information on equipment failures at Terminal 6.”