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Union head says Mitsui is ‘profiting from the United States’ infrastructure, natural resources and labor’ yet breaking U.S. law with its lockout
VANCOUVER, WA (MARCH 5, 2013) – The International Longshore and Warehouse Union, Local 4 has filed an Unfair Labor Practice charge against Mitsui-United Grain for the company’s lockout of its workforce at the Port of Vancouver USA that began on Feb. 27.
“It’s shameful that Mitsui-United Grain, a Japanese corporation that’s profiting from the United States’ infrastructure, natural resources and labor, has chosen to violate our federal law instead of negotiating a fair labor agreement with its American workforce,” said ILWU International President Robert McEllrath, a Vancouver-based longshoreman. “Mitsui-United Grain should stop violating the law, end this harmful lockout, and follow the example set by its American competitors who have reached a satisfactory agreement with the men and women of the ILWU.”
Last week, the ILWU made a joint announcement with grain exporter TEMCO, owned by Cargill and the American farmers represented by CHS, that the U.S. companies and the union had reached a collective bargaining agreement...