Grain terminal owners won't lock out workers but will implement offer
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - The owners of four Pacific Northwest grain terminals have informed the longshore union they will not lock them out of their jobs. Instead, they will implement the terms of their final contract offer on Thursday.
Under federal law, employers can take that step when parties reach a bargaining impasse. The last contract expired Sept. 30 and negotiations have stalled.
"This is not a lock out," the employers said in a statement. "The companies informed the union that ILWU members are welcome to come to work under the new terms and conditions of employment."
Wednesday's action puts the International Longshore and Warehouse Union on the spot. Its options include accepting the offer, calling for a strike or seeking further bargaining while working under the new terms.
The union is reviewing the owners' letter, ILWU spokeswoman Jennifer Sargent said in a statement. For now, employees "intend to continue working despite the substandard provisions of the employer's last offer," she said.
The owners submitted their final offer Nov. 16 and it was rejected by union membership 94 percent to 6 percent. The union, contending talks were not at an impasse, offered additional dates.
Though it's unknown for how long the longshoremen will work under terms they oppose, each day without a strike or lockout is good for farmers and their customers in Asia. More than a quarter of all U.S. grain exports and nearly half of U.S. wheat exports move through grain terminals on the Willamette River and Puget Sound.
The dispute initially involved six of those terminals that operate under a single collective bargaining agreement with the ILWU:
- Japan-based Marubeni Corp. (Columbia Grain in Portland).
- Japan-based Mitsui & Co. (United Grain in Vancouver, Wash.).
- Amsterdam-based Louis Dreyfus Commodities (grain elevators in Seattle and Portland).
- United States-based Cargill and CHS Inc. (elevators in Tacoma and Portland).
But one of the four owners, the Cargill and CHS joint venture, has broken away from the consortium and is believed to be negotiating separately with the union. It was not included in the letter the other owners emailed Wednesday to Leal Sundet, an ILWU coast committeeman, informing him of their decision to implement the terms of the last offer.
Both sides have said workplace rules and management rights have been the sticking point during talks.
Northwest grain terminals based in the Washington cities of Longview and Kalama operate under separate agreements with the ILWU. Terminals operators in Portland, Seattle and Vancouver, Wash., say they are at a competitive disadvantage because the longshoremen at their facilities have more favorable rules than those in Kalama and Longview.
The owners want to eliminate perks such as paying workers a half-hour's wages for working as little as six minutes. They also want greater discretion in hiring and staffing decisions and, according to a statement, "the ability to hold the union to its agreement not to engage in work stoppages."
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
"The owners want to eliminate perks such as paying workers a half-hour's wages for working as little as six minutes."
Â
Of course the unions want this. They want to work as little as possible and make the most money can.
Â
Unions are one of the reasons companies are leaving the US. The other are taxes, high wages and government regulations.
 @RalphCramden I have to agree with you!
I so very much want to play on that mountain of grain.
I find it curious that they're arguing about the 1/2 pay for 6 min work./ Having read (In the comments) that it's due to being called in them told to go home. I have worked many jobs (Temp & Perm) and when I showed and have not punched in but was sent home, I got 2 hours pay andf if I was on the clock, then it was 4 hours....
BTW...each time I had to join the union, it was because the union FORCED the company I was working for to go union, forcing me to join if I wanted to continue to work. Then, shortly, they went out strike, forcing me out of work...2 times they did not have strike pay, and I could not draw unemployment because of the strike. Unions have done their good in the past, all they do how is hurt everyone!
Over the years, I've belonged to 3 unions...2 times Labor, 2 times Teamsters, 1 time Operating Engineers...from personal experience belonging to essentially 5 unions (different locals) I have to agree with "Randy" and "faith"! The only time in my life I have been unemployed was when I belonged to the unions, and was why I dumped them each time, and went out and found my own job. Twice, I was fined for working outside the union because they said it was fair that I was unemployed, but not fair to the union to find my own job. And EVERY TIME the unions FORCE a increase in wages and benefts, the cost of living goes up....just who do you think pays for those raises...ultimately we do in inceased cost of goods.Â
"Substandard offer"?
Right. Lets compare some employment packages based on the work done.
There are tons of hard working people who would consider your 'substandard offer' a dream come true.
Unions, time to reform in a big way or just say good bye.
I would say dump the Unions. If they win, you get the pennies, they get the millions. Plus, you loose your voice. Just look at our schools. That's the Union's job at its best.
Randy your a dumb ars.
@Ghetto Baby .......be careful who you call dumb when you misuse and or misspell words.
@Rob C 503 I will leave it to your imagination,but Randy is still a dumb ars.It may not be one of George Carlins "7" but KATU will treat it like one, Merry Christmas.
Ok First, If there are unfair work practices, then they need to be corrected on both ends.Second, I am sure there is a back up plan because all that grain going to waste would indeed be a hardship on the people here in the N.W. But then again, that grain isn't exactly natural is it?
Sounds like they've been eating so many Twinkies they're about to turn into one.
Unions, only interested in greed. Â If you only work 6 minutes, get paid for 6 minutes. Â Union employees just want money without working for it. Â Dump unions.
 @RandyH How trite.  Do you have any opinions of your own, or just other people's?
 @Daniel C  @RandyH How could you possibly conclude thats not Randy's personal opinion?
What he says is essentially true albeit simplistic.
Unions no longer fill the role that they have historically. Its a shame but they now exist only for themselves, they cloak themselves in the flag and rally members as though they are patriots when in fact they are only dragging America down.
@Jack_Bauer @Daniel C @RandyH Since they seem to be trying for a fair deal I would call your claim false. In long shore work they call the longshoeman when cargo is due at the port. The longshoreman must drop everything and go to work. The 1/2 hour rule that the company is rrying to get rid of applys to when someone gets called to work, when they get there they decide they don't need as many people as they thought and send them home it is ment to cover your gas for their mistake. It is also a regular occurance that can end up costing people alot of money just in the course of a month. Years ago I had a friend who had as many as 20 such calls a month when he was starting out it adds up quickly.