Longshoremen storm Wash. state port, damage RR

[pintobean]

LONGVIEW, Wash. (AP) — Hundreds of Longshoremen stormed the Port of Longview early Thursday, overpowered and held security guards, damaged railroad cars, and dumped grain that is the center of a labor dispute, said Longview Police Chief Jim Duscha.

Six guards were held hostage for a couple of hours after 500 or more Longshoremen broke down gates about 4:30 a.m. and smashed windows in the guard shack, he said.

No one was hurt, and nobody has been arrested. Most of the protesters returned to their union hall after cutting brake lines and spilling grain from car at the EGT terminal, Duscha said.

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union believes it has the right to work at the facility, but the company has hired a contractor that's staffing a workforce of other union laborers.

The rest is at the link:
http://news.yahoo.com/longshoremen-storm-wash-state-port-damage-rr-144921214.html

[Denninmi]

1. Well, that will give the far right plenty of ammunition.

They're itching for any excuse to destroy unions.

[sabrina 1]

17. Why do we have to care about what the far right 'thinks'?

They don't think. They declared a war on workers, now they are getting what they asked for. I imagine they weren't expecting the 'other side' to fight back. Far from destroying Unions, they have only strengthened them by giving US the ammunition we needed to show how little they care about this Country.

If they can't take the heat, they should not have created it. This is what happens when you declare war on workers. Someone should have told them.

[TheWraith]

23. Because this country doesn't divide into far left and far right.

There's a lot of people in the middle, many of whom look poorly on property damage.

[sabrina 1]

68. Yes and I am part of that middle. I do not like bullies, no matter which

side of the aisle they are sitting on. And I think that makes me part of a majority of Americans. Most people are not divided into left or right. Those are false labels accepted only because we are limited to two parties so two boxes have been provided to conveniently but falsely drop people into.

A vast majority of people are like me. They care about the ISSUES, not the PARTY or the POLITICIANS. Since we have only two parties that are viable, people are forced into one or the other. I chose to be as Democrat because their platform aligns with my positions on issues. If and when the party does not stand up for its own stated principles, people 'in the middle' will notice and will decide what they need to do about it. As of now, the Dem Party's shift to the right lost them the 2010 election. However, they are pretending it didn't happen the way it did so have learned nothing from that loss. People who refuse to face facts and repeat failed behavior, are destined to lose again.

[former9thward]

26. You did read this was one union against another didn't you?

[sabrina 1]

72. See my post #71

Of course I realize that the Multi Corps who initially brought in cheap labor to try to break the Union and when that failed, brought in an outside union in an attempt to win this war on workers, by pitting one union against an another. I am glad to see it is not working. I give the Longshoremen credit for their months-long peaceful attempts to resolve this problem. That Corporation should lose its license now, imo, and should lose the subsidies it is getting along with its tax breaks for what it has tried to do to American workers.

Economic terrorism, it is not the first or only such case. If Americans do not take a stand against these Multi-National Corps, the mission of leveling the wages of Americans to be more in line with China, will be accomplished. This truly is a war on America's workers, and it is Global.

[Claudia Jones]

32. don't be silly

The far right doesn't need an excuse.

[readmoreoften]

79. Everything gives the far right ammunition. Who gives a fuck.

Eventually we have to start fighting back and fighting against phony scab unions is an excellent start.

[lonestarnot]

87. The far right can shine their own ass looks like to me, union didn't give a flying fuck what CONs

think or better don't think.

[Denninmi]

2. Well, that will give the far right plenty of ammunition.

They're itching for any excuse to destroy unions.

[villager]

5. Right -- they weren't going to destroy unions unless and until they fought back

n/t

[Odin2005]

3. The RW morans have alreadt started the "UNION THUGS" crap.

:banghead:

[Broderick]

4. And it feeds itself with MSM help.

[badtoworse]

8. How would you characterize them?

If not thugs, what are they?

[pintobean]

9. Frustrated and angry

They are losing their livelihood. That doesn't excuse their actions, but I understand their reasons.

[yawnmaster]

31. Well, someone is losing their livelihood. What about those already doing the job?

who are apparently other union workers from what I read.

[pintobean]

34. Read some more.

:eyes:

[Broderick]

37. Other union laborers ?

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union believes it has the right to work at the facility, but the company has hired a contractor that's staffing a workforce of other union laborers.

[DrunkenBoat]

75. They don't just "believe," they have a contract.

[DrunkenBoat]

74. scabs.

[badtoworse]

6. And union people wonder why support for unions is declining.

Any reasonable person would be appalled by this conduct.

[Bluebear]

11. "union people" eh?

[pintobean]

15. You know.......'those' people

[badtoworse]

20. Hey, I belonged to a union once, but it didn't work out.

Early in my career, I belonged to AFSCME, DC 37. When the shop steward (or whatever he called himself) told me to slow down because I making the older guys look bad, I decided they weren't for me. I've done WAY better without a union than I ever would have as a union member.

[pintobean]

21. So, you have a negative view of unions based on a few words

spoken by one person from one local of one union. Brilliant.

[badtoworse]

22. There's more to it than that.

I've had other experiences with unions that reinforce my negative opinion. I don't see any point in going into details - we wouldn't agree and I don't feel like getting into a pissing match.

[pintobean]

24. Then, maybe you should have kept your anti-union opinion to yourself

rather than scattering it around a Democratic message board.

[Bluebear]

27. Solidarity!

[Broderick]

33. For which Union?

The one staffed at the place or the union destroying property and taking hostages?

[pintobean]

36. Follow the thread.

That wasn't what the comment was about.

[Broderick]

38. Refuse to engage in union bashing in general

Happens all the time, but I see the job is being staffed by other union workers so there is a choice to make I guess. I am merely pointing it out. It's not like at Verizon where people from no union were doing the job.

[Claudia Jones]

40. two possibilities

Either you know better, or you do not.

[Broderick]

46. You don't work for a union

The union works for you. Which side is right? You can give the response you gave, but what is the response from the other union that is working for it's members?

[Claudia Jones]

51. you aren't making sense

I can't make sense of this post, sorry.

[Broderick]

53. I am not involved in the prism of who is right

and who is wrong by association. Obviously you think the one group of union workers is right, and I don't know the story of the other. Just looking for clarification. I don't see where damaging Warren Buffets rail cars, dumping food, detaining people in what could be construed as a hostage taking, against a company using another union group of workers makes sense. Maybe the unions should work together, but nevertheless, it distracts from the real villains out there in full on assault on the middle class and unions.

[pintobean]

54. I'll answer your question, but you don't have to be assinine.

It's called jurisdiction. It's Longshoremen work being poached by the Operating Engineers. Their jobs are being stolen from them. I don't agree with the actions they've taken, but I sure understand their anger.

[Broderick]

58. That makes a bit of sense because I wasn't aware

of this ongoing issue until just now and from reading the article I am trying in vain to gather some information which the article seems lacking in.

I can't condone destruction of property or hostage taking. I don't see that accomplishing much when it's workers of one union against workers of another union. On the surface it makes me scratch my head. If I were to storm my competition down the street because they are getting more business and I detained workers or management there for hours, I would be in jail. Period. If I were to destroy their equipment or tools or customer's property for that matter, I would be in jail. Period.

[pintobean]

60. How do you think the Operating Engineers would react

if the Laborers or Teamsters said 'Fuck you, this is our work now.'

[Broderick]

61. I don't know the answer to that

[Xicano]

95. Longshore Shipping News

http://www.longshoreshippingnews.com/tag/oregon-afl-cio/

[Broderick]

99. It says in this article that they hired NON

union workers at from low wage areas below community wages levels. Later they "Then, it exacerbated tensions with the local labor community by importing union workers from another jurisdiction to cross the picket lines."

I am getting a clearer picture. This has been going on for some time it seems too.

[Claudia Jones]

39. stop with this

Dear Brothers and Sisters of IUOE Local 701, We are the members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU). In 2006, IUOE Local 701 had a labor dispute at the Port of Portland's Terminal 4. The ILWU refused to cross Local 701′s picket line. We forced several ships to stay idle to help you get the agreement you needed.

Today, a multinational corporation called EGT Development is trying to use Local 701 to undermine the ILWU, and it is hurting your relationships with other unions. For generations, the ILWU has worked all West Coast docks and grain export terminals. We are constantly honing our safety procedures because grain is very dangerous work. Many of our people have died, including one man who fell to his death in a grain elevator just a couple of years ago in Vancouver.

EGT's collusion with Local 701 is already hurting your union. Recently, Mark Holliday and Nelda Wilson signed a contract with EGT to take away the work that we do in every other grain export terminal in the Northwest. The officers at Local 701 will try and make you believe that getting jobs at any cost is a good idea. But already the backlash against 701 has been swift, severe and will be long-lasting unless 701 stops colluding with the employer to undermine another union. Just Google "701" and "EGT" and you will see that other union members feel betrayed and disgusted that Local 701 is dirtying itself by colluding with EGT against another union.

Just last week, the Oregon AFL-CIO Executive Board passed a resolution condemning the actions of Local 701 and called these actions "scab labor." We know Local 701′s collusion with EGT is a decision that was made above your head, but you don’t need to stand for it. We are here today to ask you, as union brothers and sisters, to refuse to assist in the union-busting efforts of EGT and to honor our jurisdiction...just as we did in 2006 when IUOE 701 had a labor dispute at Terminal 4. Someday, you will need to support of other unions to keep your own union job secure.

It's not worth it to sell your union's credibility and support from other unions forever just for a handful of jobs today. Remember, solidarity goes both ways! In 1934, our grandfathers fought and died to form our union. We have supported other unions, including yours, for many decades since that time. An injury to one is an injury to all.

Signed,
Your brothers and sisters of the ILWU

http://www.ilwu.org/?p=2736

[Broderick]

43. Maybe the unions should join forces

Pitting union against union seems like trouble, and it's bad enough that jobs are being whacked everywhere and state governments are coming down hard on unions. Meanwhile it seems lip service at times is the only thing that is given from an administrative standpoint. But again, this is one letter from one side of the union that held hostages and destroyed property. What is the other union's response?

[Claudia Jones]

47. huh?

Management is always trying to pit one group of workers against another. You blame the workers rather than management.

[Broderick]

50. I haven't even touched on the management

What was the reason they went to another union workforce?

[badtoworse]

52. If you believe their conduct shouldn't be condemned, then I think we're done.

Unions have done a lot of good things, but they've also done some pretty bad things. Not everyone has had good experiences with unions. You apparently lack honesty and maturity to acknowledge that. You also have a problem with me condemning the indefensible. I think that is more of a reflection on you than me.

[MedicalAdmin]

56. Those security goons weren't hurt...

What exactly was indefensible about this?

For me it is the effort by the company to do and end run around a good and strong union by using a subcontractor with a weaker union to try to get an opening in the stream of goods entering the country. That is despicable and just short of scabbery.

[badtoworse]

59. What's indefensible?

Taking hostages and vandalizing property certainly qualify.

[Broderick]

65. Come on now

In all reality if you even detain someone for a minute you will be locked up. Regardless if they are merely goons, who likely belong to a whole nother union themselves. But I guess I understand the anger to a degree, but union against union might be indicative of the crisis the middle class and unions in general are facing. This is not going to be a good thing, and it foreshadows a dark future coming up. Lip service from the administration and Republican governors en mass are hitting hard. I think we might have the makings of a revolution coming on of sorts, but the sad part is we have such a degradation of manufacturing jobs and jobs in general that we are eating our own so to speak.

[pintobean]

62. No, I took issue with your attitude about unions.

I somewhat agree with you about the actions taken by the Longshoremen. Now, you've resorted to personal attacks. I have no problem with my reflection.

[badtoworse]

78. Wasn't meant as a personal attack; sorry if it came off that way

I do think you and most of the other posters need to think about the tactics you either fully support or can't unequivocally condemn. Suppose a bunch of RW Fundies did the same thing at a Family Planning Center (i.e. took the staff hostage and trashed the place). I'd be equally appalled about that and I'd have a problem with people who didn't condemn it in the strongest terms. How do you think the posters who support the Longshoremen would react? Would they see it as a legitimate form of protest? If not, why not?

I don't approve of violence and extortion to accomplish an objective regardless of who's doing it and what the objective is. Historically unions have done that and even today, it still happens sometimes. That's the main reason for my negative opinion. I see that being applauded here and I don't agree with it. Why should you take issue with that?

[pintobean]

91. Unequivocally condemn?

I've said I don't agree with their tactics. If that's not good enough for you, that's to fucking bad. We're not standing in their shoes. Their ability to provide for their families is being stolen from them.

[badtoworse]

93. The difference isn't worth arguing about.

Your position on this is way better than most of the others on this thread.

[pintobean]

96. It's an opinion. We're all entitled to our own.

To assume yours is superior comes across as extremely arrogant and insulting. You can make your case without that attitude. People aren't likely to change their minds while they're looking up your nostrils.

[badtoworse]

98. Point taken, I'll try to do better.

Do you believe all opinions are worthy of the same level of respect? What level of respect would you assign to the opinion of the RW Fundie I mentioned in earlier post?

[blindpig]

25. So, you are on the side of the bosses.

Gotta choose, which side are you on?

[badtoworse]

28. I look at each situation separately

The bosses aren't always right and neither are the unions. In this case, the unions were wrong, egregiously so.

[Claudia Jones]

35. do you apply that to your family?

To your spouse?

To be "in the middle' as you want to claim is to choose sides and not be honest about that.

[badtoworse]

57. Absolutely!

It's not about "being the middle"; it's about having a moral compass and not being afraid to point out things that are wrong. A marriage or family relationship where that does not happen is built on a very weak foundation. Is there a more important value you can teach your kids?

My wife and I are honest with each other.

[Claudia Jones]

67. really

So if your wife gets into trouble, you wait until "all of the facts come out" before you decide whether you stand with her or against her? You scold her in public? You make your support of her conditional?

[badtoworse]

69. My wife doesn't vandalize property and take hostages, even on her worst days.

[readmoreoften]

82. No, you just fuck over your fellow workers because they're "old"

Much more noble than breaking a window.

Go. Join. The Republicans.

I promise you, it's where you belong. They'll calm down someday and take non-fundamentalists back some day, I swear.

[Claudia Jones]

102. comprehension issues here, it seems

Your post is not responsive to what I wrote.

[readmoreoften]

81. Which means your on the side of the bosses.

That's the bullshit every strikebreaker, scab, company man pulls.

A union means that workers have THIRD PARTY BINDING ARBITRATION. When it's "wrong" you lose. Being in a union is always right because without it the bosses win every time.

[Claudia Jones]

101. well said

"Being in a union is always right because without it the bosses win every time."

[readmoreoften]

80. Why don't you just join the Republicans. You are unneeded in the Democratic Party.

Yeah, fuck those "old guys". Work your ass off to make someone else rich. Take pay cuts. Slit everyone else's throat, who cares?

There's nothing lower than selfish anti-union scum.

[mrmpa]

12. No any reasonable person would be ..

appalled by the actions of the owners.

[badtoworse]

13. Good luck selling that to the public - nt

[sabrina 1]

19. As part of that public, I applaud what they are doing. As do most

American workers whose jobs are being threatened by Corporate America.

A modern-day Boston Harbor! Good for them!

[Broderick]

30. Taking hostages? Destroying property?

Yeah, that is something to be applauded I guess. The workers there now are unionized too. So which side of the union fence are people on? The current workers that are unionized or the other union that is destroying property and taking hostages?

[sabrina 1]

71. I think you are not familiar with this story.

And as a matter of fact, the 'other' union workers have been violent, injuring members of this union by driving a truck through a picket line among other things several weeks ago.

The Multi-National Corporation brought in cheap labor to undercut the Longshoremen initially, then when that didn't work, went outside the area and brought in other union workers in a slimy attempt to pit union workers against each other. Anything, rather than pay the wages they are supposed to pay. This Foreign Corporation has been given tax payer subsidies and tax breaks by this country, and in return were supposed to deal honestly with the people who make up that community, including the Longshoremen.

They have betrayed the workers in this country where they were allowed to come and make huge profits. What happened today was the culmination of months of tensions created by this Multi-National Corp. in that community not to mention violence against the Longshoremen. Even the Sheriff stated that he understands what is going on and sympathizes with the Longshoremen, as do I and anyone who knows what caused all of this over the past several months.

It was a truly cynical and nasty, calculated act to use another outside union against the men who have worked those docks for so long. No one supports them and the other union should be ashamed for allowing themselves to be used by a foreign corp. this way against their own fellow citizens and union workers. They too will be thrown away once their usefulness in this situation is over. And who will come to their aid now, after what they have done?

I am glad it is finally getting this kind of attention which I hope will do for these Union workers, what the attention finally given to the Borax workers in Ca, did for them not so long ago. This is spreading across the country, the crushing of unions by these Multi National Corporations and finally the Unions are beginning to fight back.

And the fight is not just for them, it's for all American workers. There is a war on workers going on and I for one am glad to see the workers finally fighting back and fully support them. I give them credit too for the patience they have had for so many months and do not blame them one bit for finally taking matters into their own hands. No one is fighting for America's workers, certainly not our government so good for them for not waiting any longer for help which is clearly not coming.

'We are the people we have been waiting for'.

Things are changing and for the better finally.

[Claudia Jones]

42. you oppose that then?

Interesting.

[girl gone mad]

90. Speak for yourself.

This member of the public supports the ILWU.

[sabrina 1]

18. I guess I'm not a reasonable person then. They are fighting back in

the war that has been declared on their livelihood.

How do you feel about the tossing of tea in Boston Harbor? Airc, a lot of damage occurred during that little fracas, much more than happened here.

I hope they use the Boston Harbor analogy. As for the Unions 'losing support', they WERE until they started to stand up to these rightwing, anti-American thugs who are trying to destroy their lives on behalf of Corporate America.

[yawnmaster]

29. But in this case it looks like they are fighting other union workers...

I'm trying to find more details, but it doesn't look like this is union vs scab, but union vs union.

[Union Scribe]

85. You've said this repeatedly

Since it's the centerpiece of your argument, it'd be nice to know where it's coming from.

Edit: If what I've read now is what you're buying, it's not a good purchase on your part. A company rounding up scabs and saying "you're our new union" doesn't make them union any more than calling myself an archbishop means I can walk into the Vatican without someone tossing me on my ass.

[Claudia Jones]

45. no mystery

We know why. The anti-labor sentiments are all over this, and every other thread that talks about organized labor.

We also know that the assault on organized labor is how things went from "bad to worse."

[Union Scribe]

84. Well I hope you didn't faint too hard

Or that you at least had a swooning couch nearby.

[lonestarnot]

88. What would you like to see there whiney butt? You'd have them offer up their jobs to some union

busting bullshit?

[Brickbat]

7. Longshoremen are totally badass.

K&R.

[999998th word]

86. Awesome job, Longshoremen=

This seems like 'Union baiting' from corporate $$$$. Same old divide and conquer tactic they use everywhere else-only with a clever new twist,

pitting one Union against the other.

Bet if someone dug deep enough, they would find big money paid to someone in the weaker Union to help set this up.:shrug:

They will spin this on MSM anyway-SOP for the greedy rat bastard corps.

[StandingInLeftField]

10. The older I get, the more militant I become.

We've seen what civility and the attempts at compromise have gotten us - zilch!

If we don't believe we are repeating the first three decades of the 20th Century I suggest we sit up, spit out our gum and turn our American History textbooks to page 136.

[0rganism]

14. this has more in common with the Boston tea party of 1773 than any Koch bros BS

but you wouldn't know it from reading the comments below the article

[proud patriot]

16. Don't fuck with Longshoremen

they have sttod with us at every peace rally and other union walkouts . A strong union with strong Values.

[MedicalAdmin]

44. I stand with the working class....

Period.

Here's my question. The bosses hired a contractor who had "other" union members. Who started that other union, who is it affiliated with, and is it really just a front for the bosses?

The longshoremen are the real deal. Who are these others? Anyone know?

[Claudia Jones]

49. here you go

http://www.ilwu.org/

[MedicalAdmin]

55. Looks to me like the company is trying to do an end run around the union.

ANd they are using any means fair or foul to accomplish it. I hope they like not moving any freight into or out of the USA or Canada.

"oops - somehow your ship sunk..."

[robdogbucky]

41. Int’l Transport Workers’ Federation condemns detention of ILWU president

Int’l Transport Workers’ Federation condemns detention of ILWU president
September 8, 2011 1:15 pm


8 September 2011: The ITF has condemned the detention yesterday of ILWU (International Longshore and Warehouse Union) president Bob McEllrath while attending a protest in Vancouver, Washington, USA. He and other ILWU members were defending the job rights of workers at a new grain export terminal at the port of Longview, whose owners, EGT, appear to be trying to ignore the 80 year history of ILWU membership at the port by recruiting non-ILWU members – in defiance, the ILWU believes, of its contract with the port.

Bob McEllrath was then released in the face of protests from his fellow dockers, among reported threats from the ‘authorities that the army would be brought in next time’.

ITF general secretary David Cockroft commented:“Bob was detained for standing up for the rights of his members. That’s not acceptable in the modern world. We call on the company and all its stakeholders to halt their provocative plans before they take this conflict out of control.”

ITF president Paddy Crumlin said: “EGT are playing with fire, and they know it. They need to take a big step back and think about what they are trying to force through, then see sense and talk to the ILWU about how to resolve this issue before it escalates even further.”


http://www.ilwu.org/?p=2932

[robdogbucky]

48. Workers volunteer to “put their bodies on the line”

Workers volunteer to “put their bodies on the line” in effort to save good jobs in Longview, WA
September 7, 2011 7:43 pm

Hundreds of port workers stood on railroad tracks today at 4pm, blocking a train carrying grain to a foreign-owned loading facility in Longview, Washington. Workers took action to protest the failure by big grain companies to honor agreements with the local community to provide good jobs in Longview.

“Everyone came to the tracks on their own free will to stand up for justice and protect good jobs in this community, said ILWU President Bob McEllrath, who stood with the volunteers on Wednesday afternoon. “It shouldn’t be a crime to fight for good jobs in America.”

Police in riot gear charged the group of peaceful protesters, which included women and children, injuring several in the process. When volunteers stood their ground, police retreated and the train was backed-off. As of 6pm, it was unclear if the BNSF Railroad would continue to attempt another delivery or stand down.

The controversial grain terminal is owned and operated by EGT – a consortium of companies that includes North America, South Korea-based STX Pan Ocean and Japan-based Itochu Corporation...

http://www.ilwu.org/?p=2927

[patrick t. cakes]

63. rec..........nt

[backscatter712]

64. Gosh, there's a whole lot of concern in this thread about how this makes the union "thugs" look...

Duly noted.

[Broderick]

66. On the surface - eating our own comes to mind

It's concerning and it's likely indicative of the current state of jobs. This is no longer a workers paradise, and it's an employer market. Manufacturing jobs are kaput and leaving in droves even from the Jobs Leader in the administration who is CEO of GE as he moves thousands overseas in high tech manufacturing of X-ray equipment. The same CEO running the largest corporation in America that paid ZERO income taxes. Without jobs, and with competition for jobs being fierce this situation seems to me to be a case of "eating our own". This country is in trouble. The only fix I see is nationalization of corporations and full force of unionization throughout the land.

[sabrina 1]

73. That is not the problem. The problem is Multi-national Corps

attempting to crush unions in this country in order to reduce Americans to slave labor status, leveling Global wages to continue to increase their profits worldwide. There is absolutely no reason to do so other than greed. They have been doing it in third world countries for decades, paying off local politicians and even murdering Union Workers who tried to fight back, in countries like Colombia eg.

Unions here have finally realized, as they have elsewhere in other countries, that their government is not going to stand up for them and they are now, finally, and thankfully, taking matters into their own hands. I fully support them and I have a feeling that now this months-long battle is finally getting national attention, that the Longshoremen will be joined by workers from all over the country. This happened here in Ca just recently with another Multi National Corps and for months the workers were fighting alone, but as soon as it got national attention and word spread to other countries, the workers began to get backing from all over the country and even from workers across the globe. It was a beautiful thing to watch and the workers finally prevailed.

[Broderick]

77. And we heard about more "free trade" tonight

[DireStrike]

100. It's good, it telegraphs ignorance of history very clearly. -nt-

[BOG PERSON]

70. *clucks*

[amborin]

76. activism & standing up for workers' rights strengthens unions; ILWU is one of the strongest

Kudos to them, they are keeping alive the legacy of Harry Bridges

[readmoreoften]

83. +1

[lonestarnot]

89. K & R!

[Obamanaut]

92. Is vandalism by union members acting as a group considered 'union thuggery'? nt

[badtoworse]

94. Absolutely not!

Read through this thread - it's a legitimate form of protest.

[Obamanaut]

97. "...legitimate form of protest..." now includes derstruction of property,

kidnapping, hostage holding, breaking and entering? Who knew!


From the OP: "...Hundreds of Longshoremen stormed the Port of Longview early Thursday, overpowered and held security guards, damaged railroad cars, and dumped grain that is the center of a labor dispute, said Longview Police Chief Jim Duscha.

Six guards were held hostage for a couple of hours after 500 or more Longshoremen broke down gates about 4:30 a.m. and smashed windows in the guard shack, he said...."

[sabrina 1]

104. Do you know why it finally got to that point?

Do you know that the outside Contractors nearly killed two of the Union members, amongst other things? Check out the full story that finally led to this before passing judgement.

[blindpig]

103. How in the hell do you think workers got what they got(had)?

Do you think they said "Please, sir"?

And if we gotta do it all over again then that's what it takes.