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Struggle continues at Longview

Published Feb 4, 2012 10:10 PM

As of Jan. 30, negotiations are still in process between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the union-busting grain and food cartel, EGT. Rank-and-file workers from various ILWU locals on the West Coast, including Local 10 in the Bay Area, plus Occupy organizations, remain mobilized to defend the longshore workers in Longview, Wash. EGT had tried to break a coastwide agreement with the ILWU, originally won after years of militant struggle.

ILWU Local 21 in Longview is under gag orders from the International not to talk about the pending agreement. Supporters remain on alert to mobilize quickly, should the negotiations go sour. For now, EGT’s plan to load a ship using scab labor is on hold. It was the strength and militancy of Local 21, and the company’s fear of an impending mobilization of thousands in the small town of Longview, that forced EGT to the table. The Occupy movements in Oakland, Calif.; Portland, Ore.; Seattle, Tacoma, Bellingham, and Olympia, Wash.; and many others, plus ILWU Local 10 and rank and file from many other ILWU locals, stand ready to give support if needed.