3-6 IAN Grain Lock Out

3-6 IAN Grain Lock Out

 Grain handler locks out union.  Capital Press has run a story saying that The United Grain Corp. has locked out the longshoremen’s union from its export facility in Vancouver, Wash.  United Grain charges that a union member sabotaged its equipment by introducing a two-foot-long metal pipe into its conveyor system as well as sand and water into a railcar mover. .

The company is one of several Northwest grain handlers involved in a labor contract dispute with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union. According to a letter United Grain’s attorney sent to the ILWU, the company fired the employee. United Grain believes the sabotage caused more than $100,000 in damage and has turned its investigation over to law enforcement authorities. Shawn Campbell,  is the Assistant Director of the US Wheat Associates West Coast office and he sounds skeptical: “ All I know is what is being claimed by the  elevator at this time is that there was some sabotage according to them and that they have currently locked out the union. What is going to be the impact on wheat in the Northwest? To be determined. “

 

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