ILWU Local 4 workers locked out by Mitsui-United Grain Corp. since Feb. 27 2013

”The governor’s decision to stop providing taxpayer-subsidized public security services to the foreign-owned grain companies was a positive step,” said ILWU spokesperson Jennifer Sargent. She said union negotiators are continuing to meet with United Grain, Columbia Grain and Louis Dreyfus Commodities over the terms of a new contract. ILWU Local 4 workers have been locked out by Mitsui-United Grain Corp. in Vancouver since Feb. 27, 2013. ILWU Local 8 members have been locked out by Marubeni-Columbia Grain in Portland since May 4, 2013.

Excerpts from The Oregonian:

Grain loading has stopped at United Grain’s terminal at the Port of Vancouver, where longshore workers are picketing after being locked out last year by the terminal’s owners. That’s because earlier this month, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee ordered state highway patrol officers to stop providing security for government grain inspectors who examine outgoing grain shipments. Without the escorts, the inspectors have refused to cross the picket line.

Now, says United Grain spokesman Pat McCormick, the company’s operations at the Port of Vancouver have “effectively been shut down.”

The longshore union said the state’s decision to provide state police to provide security “was wrong from the start.”

“The governor’s decision to stop providing taxpayer-subsidized public security services to the foreign-owned grain companies was a positive step,” said International Longshore and Warehouse Union spokesperson Jennifer Sargent, via email. She said union negotiators are continuing to meet with United Grain, Columbia Grain and Louis Dreyfus Commodities over the terms of a new contract.

More at the Oregonian