Market Matters Blog

Columbia Grain locked out union workers this weekend in the newest development in a labor dispute that's been festering since long before the contract expired between the grain terminals and International Longshore and Warehouse Union.

The grain terminals and longshoremen have been at an impasse since the contract expired last September. Columbia Grain is the second terminal to lock out workers. United Grain in Vancouver locked out workers after accusing a local union leader of sabotaging equipment. Columbia Grain accused union members of slowing operations at the terminal.

"With bargaining stalled and the longshore workers engaging in 'inside game' tactics, including slowdowns, work-to-rule, and demands for repeated inspections of the same equipment -- all designed to negatively impact Columbia Grain's operations -- we have decided that a lockout is our best alternative," the company said in a written statement (according to The Oregonian, link below).

Temco, a combined effort of Cargill and CHS, reached its own tentative contract with the union. It hasn't been approved.

Money isn't the issue in this labor dispute. The grain terminals want similar business friendly terms that the union gave to the terminals in Longview, Wash., and Kalama, Wash.

Both terminals that locked out workers implemented back-up plans, including hiring non-union tugboats and strikebreaking firms to provide additional workers to make up the shortfall. Sources say that business is carrying on, but the situation is tenser than ever before.

While the dispute hasn't materially affected grain movement out of the PNW's export terminals, rising tensions could take a toll. We'll just have to wait and see.

http://www.oregonlive.com/…

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