US Court Fines ILWU for Work Stoppages

The US District Court of Oregon has ordered the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) to pay the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) USD 59,628 to compensate for work stoppages and slowdowns.

On December 16, 2014, Oregon Judge Michael Simon ruled that the ILWU International in San Francisco and ILWU Local 8 in Portland willfully and intentionally violated the court’s previous injunction against work stoppages and slowdowns at Terminal 6.

In his ruling, Judge Simon said that ILWU leadership encouraged ILWU members to engage in unlawful work stoppages and slowdowns and directed and coordinated their actions. The judge also found that, in some cases, ILWU Local 8 officers directly participated in this conduct.

In addition, the ILWU was ordered to pay the attorney fees and expenses of the NLRB in obtaining the contempt order.