Occupy responds to ILWU & EGT tentative agreement for Longview
For Immediate Release
January 23, 2012
Occupy responds to ILWU & EGT tentative agreement for Longview
Occupations will continue to mobilize until the agreement is finalized by ILWU membership
Longview, WA –Occupy protesters and members of labor are still poised to converge on Longview, despite news of a temporary agreement offered to the longshoremen of ILWU Local 21, who have been mired in a 6-month long battle with multinational grain holding company, EGT. Occupiers say news of the offer is not stopping their plans to blockade the loading of a grain ship.
Besides the fact that there is no public knowledge of an alleged "temporary agreement" between EGT (Export Grain Terminal) and the ILWU--despite suggestions otherwise--occupiers are concerned the bargaining process will be rushed. "Any legitimate negotiating process will allow rank-and-file reasonable time to consider and to ratify details of an agreement with their employer," says Jess Kincaid, an organizer with Occupy Portland.
Occupies Portland, Longview, and Oakland, who have coordinated an inter-occupy caravan of protesters from along the West Coast, say they are not swayed by the new development: "What we want is the best possible conditions for rank-and-file. Anything less, and Occupy will mobilize as planned," promised Occupy Oakland's Barucha Peller. The company-- majority-owned by multinational grain exporter Bunge-- has used private mercenaries, litigation, and other forms of pressure to break the ILWU's contracted jurisdiction on the West Coast.
"This temporary agreement could be a step towards maintaining the jurisdiction of the Longshore union. However, Occupy will continue mobilizing until rank-and-file Longshore workers reach an agreement," said Paul Nipper, organizer with Occupy Longview.
Supporters of the Longview workers are continuing to mobilize and stand ready for defense of the rank-and-file workers.
Updates can be found at www.OccupyTheEGT.org
- Log in to post comments
