Longshore workers at the Port of Oakland are opposing a developer’s plan to ship coal to Asia through a new terminal at the old Army Base.
Members of International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 10 and Local 34 voted to oppose the handling of coal at a new bulk maritime terminal being built by developer Phil Tagami’s company California Capital & Investment Group, union officials announced Friday. The unions join several elected officials, port commissioners, environmental groups and members of the community in objecting to the plan.
“When the developers of the project were seeking tax money and public support to develop the Oakland Army Base, they talked about exporting cargoes like grain and potash,” Sean Farley, president of Local 34 said in a statement. “They made a ‘no coal’ promise to workers, the community and elected officials, and they need to make good on that promise.”
The Oakland City Council on Monday will hold a public hearing to discuss Tagami’s controversial plan. Councilman Larry Reid and Vice Mayor Rebecca Kaplan co-sponsored Kalb’s hearing proposal. Monday’s special hearing starts at 4 p.m.
