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Merkley and McDermott lead Oregon and Washington Congressional Members in Calling for Resolution of Port Dispute

Joint news release from Sen. Merkeley and Congressman Jim McDermott:
WASHINGTON, DC – Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley and Washington Congressman Jim McDermott today were joined by ten of their colleagues from Oregon and Washington to call for continuing negotiations and a fair and amicable settlement between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the Pacific Northwest Grain Handlers Association.
“It is imperative for the health of the regional economy that an agreement is reached without an unnecessary and potentially devastating interruption in grain exports,” the Congressional leaders wrote. “We strongly urge both the Pacific Northwest Grain Handlers Association and the ILWU to continue negotiating in good faith to resolve the remaining issues and to swiftly move toward a final contract agreeable to both parties.”
Joining Senator Merkley and Congressman McDermott are Oregon Senator Ron Wyden, Washington Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, Oregon Congressman Peter Defazio, and Washington Congressmen Norm Dicks, Adam Smith, Rick Larsen and Congresswoman Suzan DelBene, as well as Congressmen-elect Denny Heck and Derek Kilmer.
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Northwest lawmakers urge more grain terminal labor talks

Union dock workers and grain terminal owners both say they don’t want any kind of work stoppage that would disrupt Northwest grain exports.
But as of late Friday, there was no contract, and no new negotiations scheduled.
The Pacific Northwest Grain Handlers Association, representing the owners of a half-dozen terminals in Oregon and Washington, set a Saturday deadline for the International Longshore and Warehouse Union to respond to the latest contract offer.
Northwest lawmakers have urged both sides to keep talking.
Union spokeswoman Jennifer Sargent says workers intend to keep moving grain, and have proposed dates for new talks.
Terminal owners’ spokesman Pat McCormick says the owners have no plans for a lockout, and are waiting for a union response.
Northwest terminals handle a quarter of all U.S. grain exports.
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