Longshoreman's Union Sues US Port of Portland

The  International Longshore & Warehouse Union ILWU file a federal lawsuit against the Port of Portland & Bill Wyatt, its Executive Director.

The ILWU filed a federal lawsuit against the Port of Portland and Bill Wyatt, its Executive Director, for unlawfully gifting nearly $5-million in public funds to a private Philippines-based company, ICTSI Oregon, Inc., and tens of thousands more to ocean carriers.

The ILWU lawsuit seeks an injunction against the expenditures and demands that the illegally granted funds remain in public hands.

“The Port violated the trust of local taxpayers when it gave $4.7 million in public funds to a private company that made $135 million in profits last year and whose CEO is worth $3.6 billion,” said Leal Sundet, ILWU Coast Committeeman and resident of Clackamas County. “The Port’s handout to ICTSI is not only illegal, it’s wrong. Our lawsuit aims to stop the Port’s direct interference in a private labor dispute and to keep the money in public hands, where it can be invested in local infrastructure and for other purposes that serve the public good.”

The ILWU's lawsuit explains how the Port’s actions violate federal labor law and Article XI, § 9 of the Oregon Constitution.

The ILWU was formed by dockworkers in 1934 and represents 50,000 men and women in Oregon, Washington, California, Alaska and Hawaii, on the docks and in other industries.