JOC Staff | Jan 21, 2013 12:36PM EST
Unions affiliated with International Transport Workers' Federation are showing support for their colleagues in the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, ahead of what could be a major labor showdown in the U.S. Pacific Northwest.
Multinational grain companies have reportedly hired replacement non-union workers to take over work currently being done by ILWU members in case of a lockout in the ports of Seattle, Tacoma, Vancouver, Washington and Portland. Corporate owners of six elevators involved in current negotiations include Mitsui, Marubeni, Louis Dreyfus Commodities, Cargill and CHS.
“Seafarers from around the world are grateful for the ILWU’s solidarity over the decades,” said Jeff Engels, ITF U.S. West Coast coordinator, in a written statement. “They’re eager to have the opportunity to support the ILWU in their campaign to secure a good contract with the global grain merchants.”
