Authors note: Once I started writing this I realized I had a lot of information to relay about the three reasons we are supporting the West Coast port shutdown. Today's diary is about EGT and union busting in Longview. I will write two more - one about SSA and the truckers in LA and one about the police brutality that has been used against those of us who participate in the occupy movements
In response to a call out from Occupy Oakland to shut down all West Coast ports on December 12th, Occupy Seattle has begun a massive organizing campaign to participate in what will be a historic day of nationwide direct action.
A press release from Occupy Oakland has laid the ground work for all of us who are organizing to explain our reasons for participating in this day of action.
"We're shutting down these ports because of the union busting and attacks on the working class by the 1%: the firing of Port truckers organizing at SSA terminals in LA; the attempt to rupture ILWU union jurisdiction in Longview, WA by EGT. EGT includes Bunge LTD, a company which reported 2.5 billion dollars in profit last year and has economically devastated poor people in Argentina and Brazil. SSA is responsible for inhumane working conditions and gross exploitation of port truckers and is owned by Goldman Sachs. EGT and Goldman Sachs is Wallstreet on the Waterfront," stated Barucha Peller of the West Coast Port Blockade Assembly of Occupy Oakland.
The situation in Longview (which escalated into a militant battle) has very sharp roots in what has become the mantra of the Occupy movements - "We are the 99%" The story began when the multinational corporation EGT Development secured a sweetheart deal to build a grain terminal in Longview
EGT Development is a joint venture of Japan-based Itochu Corp, South Korea’s STX Pan Ocean and St. Louis-based Bunge North America. Like so many corporations that promise good jobs to get what they want, EGT got a special state tax exemption and a sweetheart lease deal from the Port of Longview to build a $200 million grain terminal there. The government even seized adjacent land for the project. But as soon as the deal’s ink was dry and the ceremonial first shovel of dirt was overturned two years ago, EGT began running the project on the cheap.
Their first union busting tactic was an attempt to use non-union labor (a violation of Local ILWU 21's contract with the port) in a bid to save $1m in costs to run the terminal. In response, the Local ILWU 21 began a direct action campaign of pickets and rallies to pressure EGT over their refusal to negotiate with the union and to protest their union busting ways.
A small escalation occurred in July when a group of workers tore down a fence and stormed the terminal. But the campaign really picked up in intensity three days later when several union dock workers blocked a train car that delivering grain to the terminal. The train was forced to turn back and service was disrupted for all cars coming into that terminal. Sweet.
Local and regional response to this event was positive (including a supportive statement from law enforcement for the illegal but righteous actions of the workers). This is not what EGT was looking for. They escalated their tactics at this point.
In what is an egregious and completely disgusting corporations are assholes move they attempted to hire a non ILWU local labor union to provide the labor for their terminal. I can say a lot of things about companies who prefer to use non-union labor (although in this case they were breaking a contract when they did so), but pitting union worker against union worker is one of the main reasons our working class is struggling to unite today. When the ruling class throws us into the pit and forces us to fight over their scraps we become weak and ineffective - we can't fight back.
It goes without saying that this elicited a major outraged response from the Local 21. Despite an court order issued by the NLRB ordering the "aggressive" pickets to stop the Local 21 organized a massive regional direct action against EGT. On Sept 7th 400 longshore workers held the train tracks for four hours, refusing to allow any grain to be brought into the terminal. They cut the train lines and dumped cars of grain onto the ground. The police responded with force, beating and pepper spraying the workers. Workers from the Seattle and Tacoma Locals had come down to help with this effort, effectively forcing a wild cat strike in those areas and stopping shift work in three major ports in this area for this one action.
This dispute between Local 21 and EGT has not been resolved. There are various court cases flying about from both sides (the only useful one is the case against their police for their brutality against the workers on their day of action). We cannot count on the court system to stand up for the rights of the 99% because they protect the rights of the 1%. Corporations are people. Workers are a commodity to be exploited and mistreated and abandoned once the capitalist gets their fill.
We stand with our brothers and sisters in Longview and support them in their struggle against EGT Development, a company jointly owned by ITOCHU, STX Pan Ocean, and Bunge North America. One look at Bunge North America's website made me want to vomit. They are a big nasty agribusiness company and they do terrible things, I'm sure. Here is the website if you have the stomach for it: Bunge North America
To address the issue of the various media reports indicating that the ILWU is very cross with us all for calling for a West Coast port shutdown, once just needs to engage in critical thinking and realize that union bureaucrats (even bureaucrats for a radical militant union like the ILWU) have to CYA when it comes to supporting a work stoppage. We are attempting to put our own narrative out to tap down any dissent in the media but we also recognize that engaging in a PR war with main stream media is never going to work out in our favor. In person organizing, outreach to the workers, and making a presence known in communities is what will make this day the huge success that I know it will be.
I will end with a few resources for those of you who want to read more about this national day of action. We are all very excited about this day, and I hope to see some of you on the picket line.
West Coast Port Blockade
Occupy Seattle West Coast port shutdown
Hip Hop Occupies call for action West Coast port shutdown
One Angry Queer Port Shutdown: Why It Matters