A federal judge has denied a National Labor Relations Board request to find Port of Portland Longshoremen in contempt of court for an Independence Day work slowdown.
Judge Michael Simon said at a hearing Thursday he believes some Longshoremen intentionally worked at a slow speed that morning, but they may not have received word of a July 3 order to stop an illegal slowdown that has been disrupting the flow of cargo at the international container terminal.
On a related matter, Simon granted a preliminary injunction that orders the Longshoremen to work at regular speed.
The Longshoremen began the work slowdown in early June because of a dispute with electrical workers over which union employees should plug in and unplug refrigerated shipping containers.
