Lockout of longshoremen’s union not planned

PORTLAND – Northwest grain terminal owners say they have no plans to lock out workers even though they got no response to their final contract offer by a Saturday deadline.

Terminal owners said in a statement that they believe bargaining with a longshoremen’s union is at an impasse but have agreed to attend meetings with a federal mediator next week and “will approach them with an open mind.”

International Longshore and Warehouse Union spokeswoman Jennifer Sargent said Saturday that workers will return to the negotiating table. Meetings are scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday.

Northwest terminals handle a quarter of all U.S. grain exports.