The following letter was sent from the ILWU’s Puget Sound District Council President Dan McKisson regarding work that the Port of Vancouver has contracted for today, June 28, through Wednesday, July 3. The original letters Brother McKisson refers to are available at these links:

Brothers and Sisters,

Attached is a notice from attorneys representing the Port of Vancouver describing a plan to enter the UGC facility to remove equipment and do “punchlist” work between 0600 June 28 and July 3, 2013.

The attorneys for the port quote case law as to the legality of the work they want performed behind ILWU picket lines.

I am not an attorney and can not tell you whether a union member can “legally” work behind another unions pickets, but I do know that working behind another unions pickets is wrong and detrimental to that unions fight and the labor movement as a whole. Working behind another unions pickets only empowers the company and removes leverage from the union that is in the fight.

If your union represents any of the companies listed in the attached letter or any company your union represents asks you to enter the UGC facility we ask that you refuse to cross or work behind any ILWU picket lines. Because you can “legally” use a gate without pickets does not make it OK. Please do not assist the grain merchants. Your actions will help bring an end to the the lockout.

The ILWU will win this fight and will win it with solidarity from other unions. When our brothers and sisters are in a fight and need the ILWU we will be there.

We thank you in advance for your solidarity.

Dan McKisson
President, Puget Sound District Council – ILWU

The companies involved include Younglove Construction Company, Design Space Modulars, Gerlock Towing & Heavy Haul, Bones Construction, Clark Public Utilities, Advanced American Construction and Cherry City Electric.