This could sting: Feds seek to fine ILWU $293,000 for protests

Serves these slimeballs right.  Maybe $2.9 million would have been a better number, but this. at least, is a start.

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Feds seek to fine ILWU $293,000 for protests

The federal government is seeking nearly $293,000 in damages and costs from the longshore union for protests and vandalism at the EGT grain terminal at the Port of Longview Sept. 7 and Sept. 8, according to a Monday court filing.

Attorneys for the National Labor Relations Board say the estimate includes damage to Burlington Northern Santa Fe rail cars and EGT property during a morning raid on Sept. 8, when hundreds of people broke into the terminal, spilled grain from the rail cars, broke windows at a security shack and harassed security guards. It also includes police overtime — for Sept. 7 protests and the Sept. 8 vandalism — and attorney fees.

The costs include:

• Nearly $140,000 in damage and compensation to EGT and $13,000 to BNSF. That includes $80,000 in lost grain for the 9,855 bushels spilled during the event. Damage to a railcar was just over $1,000 and damage to a security vehicle was $1,400. It also includes EGT overtime costs and lawyers fees.

• Just over $76,000 in police overtime costs, including the Cowlitz County sheriff's office, the Longview and Kelso police departments and the Washington State Patrol. (The Kelso estimates also include costs from Sept. 9-10; Cowlitz County included costs from protests in July and said more were forthcoming.)

• About $66,000 in NLRB attorney fees to compile the damage and compensation figures.

The Sept. 8 raid and damage occurred less than a week after U.S. District Court Judge Ronald B. Leighton barred the union from blocking trains or engaging in violent picketing. On Sept. 15, Leighton ruled that the longshore union violated that order and asked the NLRB and EGT to determine damage estimates. Leighton is expected to decide Friday how much to fine union.

Also Friday, he will rule on an NLRB request to impose a $25,000 fine if the International Longshore and Warehouse Union violates his restraining order again.

Union officials contend that all damage claims remain mere allegations because Leighton has not held a hearing to determine whether the evidence is true.

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