People's Front of Judea attacks Judaean People's Front:

[underlankers]

http://news.yahoo.com/longshoremen-storm-wash-state-port-damage-rr-144921214.html

OK, my first reaction is "Ha ha ha these people are stupid."

My second reaction is to note that this is actually less a clear-cut case of labor violence against capital than some with varying agendas might turn it into. As noted here:

No one was hurt, and nobody has
been

Comments

[notmrgarrison]

I think the police that the union members were throwing rocks at were probably union members as well.

And "any means necessary" is way over the line.

[underlankers]

It depends on the situation and this is not one of them.

[notmrgarrison]

For the record, I was saying it doesn't.

[underlankers]

I know what you're saying and unlike others I am not a pacifist. Political violence *can* be justifiable but there better be a goddamn good reason. This is definitely not that and is an example of thuggery.

[harry_beast]

I think that unions should be subject to the same laws as everyone else. I don't view using violence, threats, destruction of private property and intimidation as a "worker's right". What happened in this case was a clear cut case of labour violence. Those responsible should be held accountable for their actions, and the union should be forced to pay for the damages.

[underlankers]

I agree in this case, and in my OP I said that this is not one of the occasions that justifies such violence. This is intimidation of other unions, not fighting the federal army being used as strikebreakers.

[peristaltor]

Not really. The employer brought in the other union from across the river (out of state). They were not until then operating in that port.

The employer is playing a zero-sum game bringing in "union" scabs.

[meus_ovatio]

Long live the Grain Party!

[peristaltor]

*rimshot*

[peristaltor]

It helps to know the context of this situation. I heard about it a few months ago, and it proves interesting

[mikeyxw]

When union members are threatening police with baseball bats, cutting brake lines, and spilling the content of grain cars, and holding guards hostage, they become easy to vilify. EGT's decision to choose a different union seems wise in this context, the ILWU are acting like a bunch of thugs.

Also, I can't believe the ILWU would increase labor by only 2%. Most of them earn more than $100K and aren't exactly known for their productivity. Do you have a source for that?

[peristaltor]

Most of them earn more than $100K and aren't exactly known for their productivity.

That's one of those urban legends spread by anti-unionists. I know guys who work ILWU, and they don't earn 6 figures. The big earners drive the container cranes, but that is one hell of a tough job, requiring some mad placement skills.

The 2% source comes from a friend who first turned me on to this story as it developed. I'll see if I can pick his brain for a source, but it sounds reliable simply because he works as an economist working on shipping and transport. Call it an appeal to authority, but he really is an authority.

[mikeyxw]

This was five years ago, but at the time they averaged $127K... at least according to those anti-unionists at the San Francisco chronicle.

http://articles.sfgate.com/2007-06-27/business/17250253_1_pacific-maritime-association-warehouse-union-international-longshore

There are plenty of similar articles floating around.

Also, regardless of what they make, their behavior is thuggish and should land them in jail. Lots of people are able to make less than six figures and refrain from attacking their employers. Not too many people can threaten a cop with a baseball bat and walk away.