Judge rejects Port of Portland injunction request, strike planned
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A judge Wednesday rejected the Port of Portland's request for an emergency injunction that would block a strike by marine terminal security guards.
The security guards represented by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union plan to go on strike Sunday because of failed contract negotiations. It's assumed that the longshoremen who load and unload ships will refuse to cross the picket lines, effectively shutting down three terminals.
In seeking the injunction, port lawyers contended that a strike would cause irreparable harm to the regional economy. Their petition seeking relief noted that in 2011 about 18,000 jobs in the Portland metropolitan area were supported by marine cargo activity in Portland harbor.
The lawyers, however, failed to persuade Multnomah County Judge John Wittmayer that a disaster is imminent, or there is a threat to the public's health and safety.
"There's an incredibly high burden of proof that one has to give (to get an injunction)," said Kama Simonds, a port spokeswoman. "That happens in court, people disagree with you."
Talks with a state government mediator are planned for Saturday in hope of preventing the strike.
"This should encourage the port to get more serious about trying to negotiate a solution and hammering out an agreement in the remaining days," said Craig Merrilees, a union spokesman.
Shipping companies, meanwhile, are deciding whether to bypass the city because of the labor problems.
Simonds said vessel schedules are very fluid, and it's anticipated that some might arrive early to avoid the strike.
Hapag-Lloyd's Cape Manila container ship arrived in Tacoma on Wednesday. According to an online schedule, it's due in Portland early Friday and expected to leave Saturday.
The Hanjin Geneva remains on schedule to arrive Sunday evening.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
They strike FIRE THEM ALL. Won't cross a picket line FIRE THE ALL............GOT IT!
Leave it to the unions to further f*#k up our local economy.
All I wanna know is, where do I apply to take the work these guys don't want?  It's a crap economy; if you don't wanna do it, I guarantee you there are more people that are willing to work for FAR less than what you demand, because you haven't figured out crap work and crap pay is better than NO pay.  I'd HAPPILY go do that security job for minimum wage right now. Â
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I'm not an illegal immigrant stealing a job, I'm an AMERICAN stealing a GREEDY person's job. Â I have my family to feed too. Â My family's food takes precedence over your greed.
 @brendanÂ
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http://www.securitas.com/us/en/Career/
http://www.roverssecurity.com/human-resources.html
http://www.eclipse-security-service.com/index.html
http://www.tripwire.com/company/working-at-tripwire/
http://www.alliedfireandsecurity.com/careers
http://www.adt.com/about-adt/careers
http://www.g4s.us/en-US/Careers/
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Those are just the few that came up in a Google search.
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If you are self loathing, have a desperate need for work RIGHT NOW and don't mind being treated poorly I bet you could start in two days (you will need to pass a DPSST course and get certified).
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Turnover is REALLY common. Indeed my wife has worked for two of these firms and my father-in law has worked for all of them at one point or another (they all have local branches).
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Apply. If you don't have a criminal background you will be hired before you walk out the door.
Some of the features of working security.
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You get a moving schedule. You likely wonât know when you are working until they call you (Christmas morning is usually really quiet).
See the sights! You wonât know where you will be or how long until they tell you and usually the guy to relieve you will have quite so you will get OVETIME.
Oh yeah no overtime. If you go over shift they will cancel your next one to prevent it.
No benefits you can afford (often cost more than what you will make), no holiday, sick or vacation time (and if you call in sick they will likely just let you go).
Unpleasant bosses who know youâre desperate and treat you like you need this more then they need you (and thatâs true).
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No need to wait, apply today!
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@brendan DUDE! Take a breath and chill out! Those bums are not worth having a stroke over, especialy on turkey day. I agree with you 100%, I am already pissed about union bul_lsh_it, have been for years. That whole hostess thing blew it for me again, and now this. Our economy is already in the crapper, and this port security thing is going to snowball and affect everyone. Anyway, try to have a good afternoon!
 @iamtroglodite  Oh, it's a wonderful day, my partner and I are celebrating our 2 year anniversary, and I'm not even cooking; we sign on new place tomorrow, so today is last day of relaxation for a few weeks :)
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Just bugs me, with all the people out there jobless (and *want* to work), and here come some yahoos with more sense of entitlement than the DNC.
I've got a simple solution and it doesn't involve blaming anyone. Close the whole bloody Portland Port system. Problem solved. It's obvious no one here knows how to run it. The Port Authority has their ideas and the unions have theirs and by the basic nature of the two, they will never agree with each other. And those of us just reading this story have no true idea of what is really going on so we just complain and point fingers, believing our words here will be noticed and adheard to by someone high up in the decision making process. Now, go ahead and rag on my opinions, I don't really care! I am fed up with both unions and union workers! I can't afford to buy a new pair of shoes due to everyone wanting to make more money than their jobs are actually worth. $25 an hour to push a broom? Bloody rediculous! $250,000 a year to push papers and make a few simple decisions? Ludicrous! Who pays for all this? Every one of us consumers do. In response to advocatus diaboli, yes, I am very aware of what the unions have done, both good and bad! People tend to only see the good side of what they believe in and overlook any faults. Everything has faults! Everything has both good and bad in it, it just depends on which side of it you are on.....
Good Christ, everyone is anti Union. Do you people have any idea what the formation of Unions have done for the American workers since they began?
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Do away with Unions, you say? Then say goodbye to the power of the worker. Say hello to lower wages, lower benefits, longer hours, less job stability, etc.
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Not all unions are giant bullies working to make their people tons of money, most of them aren't. They are there to protect the workers from unfair treatment, and by God, I'd be happy to be a part of one.
 @advocatus diaboli I've been in unions, and taken union courses (management perspective) in college.  I have a pretty fair notion myself of their role in our society.  The biggest thing I saw was a pattern:  Companies mistreat workers, unions gain in power; unions gain too much power, companies fight back, and back and forth it goes, it's a cycle that should keep things in check.
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My problem isn't the union; they are neither good nor bad in of themselves.  But when union *members* forget that during hard times the companies have the luxury of picking and choosing a labor force, and that they are NOT in a position of strength, I have issues.  When 10 people want your job, and want to do it for less money, only an idiot goes and demands the opposite.
Unions used to be about things like safety and the workers. With the instant news and publicity that we now get there is really no reason for the concern about safety....and now it just seems that unions like the ILWU are just out to crush the companies that they work for. It used to be about the greater good...but the unions don't seem to be able to see the fact that they are killing the companies they work for and ultimately it will result in no jobs for them (like Hostess).
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I'm not in a union...and I make a good wage for what I do (I've gotten over 100% increase in my pay in the last 6 years because I worked hard). People who like unions are rarely the ones with good skills....they are the ones that hide behind them getting their mandated raises while doing very little. Unions used to be about brining the best skills to the company, but now they seem to be about breeding laziness and entitlement.Â
@JimmyWally  AMEN!
Everyone here knows that next to retailers, security people are the worst paid people in industry, including fast food right?
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Few get any benefits, indeed many companies violate labor laws and get away with it because the people who work for them are so desperate for work they are willing to work for free, work without overtime pay and work any time they are called.
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Despite having to have training, and certifications, it is still one of the poorest treated industries in the area.
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$29,240 a year according to this
http://swz.salary.com/SalaryWizard/Security-Guard-Salary-Details-Portland-OR.aspx
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Just because they are union does not mean they are asking for more than they deserve. Know the facts before making a blanket judgment.
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While it is poorly paid, those "Union" positions have greater clout then any "Non-union" people have. So I suggest they go and see what it would be like to NOT have a union representing them and see how their demands are met when threatening a strike.
 @disgustedman That's precisely why Unions are a necessity... They provide protection to the workers. I've been a part of a Union, and now am not. And I wish I still were!
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Unions arose due to poor management, and they've stayed because the people need them.
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I agree that they are fortunate that they have a union backing them, just goes to show how important that backing is.
And in conclusion, may I also add, that the amount repoman showed was equal to $14 an hour and frankly I have NEVER seen a security guard ever earn that much in the private sector unless they were upper manager in a security company or corp.
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The lowest rung on the security ladder pays min to MAYBE $9.50 per hour to start and MAYBE you get a $0.25 raise every other year.
 @disgustedman Not only are they not needed but they are breaking the biggest rule of being a parasite. Do not kill or cripple the host. Hostess workers are going to learn this the hard way. Terminal workers appear to be headed in the same direction.
While unions are "Protecting" the workers, they are also causing the problems of bad workers staying in a position which they cannot be removed, transferred or fired unless they commit a gross act of neglience, theft or worse.
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I'd support the unions ONLY if they had the same working conditions as the non-union areas. Namely working like anyone else and promotions based on ability and not length of service.
@advocatus diaboli @disgustedman I'm sure thats what the poor saps working for Hostess said just before they lost their jobs."We are fortunate that we have a union backing us. Sure, you are telling us it is a good idea to hold out no matter what? Ok, you have our back, we trust you." "What? We have no job with the holidays comming up?! What do I tell my wife and kids; I was stupid enough to listen to union reps saying our job was safe no matter what?"
Please strike! I want to see the spokesman for the longshoremen on TV again. Also the picket signs with baseball bat handles those are pretty cool. Then have a stand off with the police for a little added action and free publicity as an added touch.
So, the economy is not bad enough as it is, yet these union economic terorists still are not happy with what happened to thousands of jobs at Hostess.The difference is, this will not just affect junk food junkies, this kind of thing has a huge trickle down effect that won't just go away after a few weeks. This crap can affect Oregon as a whole. And, of course, just before Christmas.
I grew up in a union family It used to be that the Unions were good and meant something.
Yet again, the tyranny of the few threaten to destroy the many.
Unions have not only outlived their usefulness but have become a willing accomplice in the destruction of our Republic. And they ironically wrap themselves in the Flag and strut about like they are patriots when in fact they are the worm that is ingesting us from the inside out.
There once was a generation that we called 'The Greatest'. They sacrificed everything they had for the survival of democracy and our Country.
We now have a generation that promises to destroy our country if we do not give them comforts.
The contrast is stunning.
I'd love to see the longshoreman go the way of the Twinkie.
Another out of control union operating as legalized extortionists.
The union members managed to put their leader back in the White House, they can do anything they want, and you can't do a damn thing about it. Except bend over and pay them anything they want.
''Union spokesman Craig Merrilees says the failure to get the injunction should encourage the port to "get more serious" about negotiating.''Â This sentence seems incomplete. I think he left the ''Or else'' part out.
Portland is very liberal and is very pro union. Yet when the union decides to go on strike Portland doesn't like it.
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I find that interesting.
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Go on strike. Make is last for a month. I will love every day of it.
 @RalphCramden I just want their job, screw 'em if they don't want to do it, I will.  Labor is in HIGH supply now, they don't get that.  If the port would hire us 'scabs' they'd have the positions filled within a week and there'd be a lot of unhappy union members getting a very bleak lesson in economy and supply & demand.
 @brendanÂ
Go for it dude.
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There are thousands of folks who would apply for the job if they went on strike. I would love to see them all lose their jobs.
Time to dump these money hungry unions.
You're welcome, Ports of Seattle & San Francisco. As well as the truck drivers and rail workers who will then have to transport the freight to its destinations.Â
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Sincerely, Port of Portland security guards union.