Longshoremen Locked Out at Port of Vancouver

United Grain Corp. accuses an International Longshore and Warehouse Union leader of sabotaging their grain terminal at the Port of Vancouver.  UGC fired the worker yesterday, citing two acts of vandalism to conveyor and gear systems.

They've locked out workers, who in turn grabbed signs and began picketing.  Managers and replacement workers will help fill the void to keep billions of dollars in shipments moving through the port.

The ILWU's Jennifer Sargent says UGC and its Japanese owner, Mitsui have "fabricated a story as an excuse to do what they've wanted to do all along, which is to lock workers out instead of reach a fair agreement with them."

Both sides have been fighting for months over a contract or lack thereof.  Late last year, the company and other terminal owners declared an impasse and imposed a contract on many of the workers who handle a quarter of grain exports from the United States.

However today, the longshore union says a new labor agreement has been reached with TEMCO, which operates grain export facilities in Portland, Tacoma, and Kalama.

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