Port of Portland files unfair labor practice charge with NLRB

Portland — The Port of Portland on Friday filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board in response to union activity that is causing delays for businesses using the port’s Terminal 6 container facility.

Work actions by members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, Local 8, “have significantly impacted container operations at Terminal 6 causing costly delays for area shippers and truckers,” the port said in a statement. The terminal is operated by ICTSI Oregon Inc.

Port spokesman Josh Thomas said Friday afternoon that trucks were lined up outside the terminal on North Marine Drive due to the work slowdown.

At issue is a jurisdictional dispute between the Longshoremen union ILWU Local 8, whose members hold many terminal operations jobs at the port, and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers over a small number of jobs that involve plugging/unplugging and monitoring refrigerated containers at Terminal 6, the port said.

When the port transitioned container terminal operations to ICTSI Oregon Inc. last year under a 25-year lease, continuation of the IBEW work was included in the lease terms, the port said.

ILWU Local 8 officials criticized the port for filing the claim, saying it should not get involved in a dispute affecting ICTSI Oregon. It said the terminal operator is contractually obligated to hire Longshormen from ILWU Local 8 for the disputed jobs.