Arrest is No. 213 in dispute over river terminal unions

KELSO, Wash. – Another Longshoreman has been arrested and their union boss says a labor dispute in Longview will get worse.

International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 21 President Dan Coffman told KOMO News that once barges and ships come into the terminal the union plans more actions.

The ILWU believes its members have the right to work at the new $200 million terminal. The company EGT has hired another firm that is staffing with workers from a different union. EGT hopes to establish the terminal on the Columbia River as a top West Coast location for shipping grain to growing markets in Asia.

Meanwhile, Kelso police arrested 38-year-old Conner S. McCleod on criminal trespass charges on Tuesday night. Kelso police say they’ve made 213 arrests since the strife began in July.