Labor protest shuts Seattle port terminal
More than 100 demonstrators shut down the Hanjin Shipping Terminal 46 at the Port of Seattle Tuesday, protesting alleged U.S. labor law violations by a frozen vegetable exporter that uses the facility.
Led by the Washington State Jobs with Justice organization, the protest blocked the main entrance to the 88-acre facility, chanting demands that longshore workers not load products set for export by Seattle-based National Frozen Foods Corp. The cargo vessel Hanjin Boston was berthed at the terminal and set to be loaded with NFFC cargo headed for Asia.
Dockworkers of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union responded by stopping work until the terminal operator agreed to isolate the NFFC cargo, place it on chassis, and remove it from the terminal.
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters has represented workers at NFFC, one of the nation's largest frozen food processors, since the end of World War II. Both unions are members of the International Transport Workers Federation, which boasts 681 labor union members representing 4.5 million workers in 148 countries.
The action was in response to union and community group demands that NFFC cease alleged antiworker activities and negotiate a fair contract with workers at its Chehalis, Wash. plant.
NFFC has negotiated concessions from its workers over the past several years, including 16 percent pay cuts and reductions in benefits. In 2004 and earlier this year, the firm tried to decertify the Teamsters union, but workers voted to keep union representation.
In July, the firm declared negotiations with the union at an impasse and ended their contract with the union. The Teamsters claim the impasse declaration was illegal and have filed unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board.
The Teamsters also claim that NFFC has denied pension benefits for workers aged 18-21, eliminated a benefit plan for new hires, stopped the union grievance process, and put into effect minimal pay increases that come nowhere near recouping losses suffered by workers under recent contract concessions.