It fell pretty well below my radar till now, but it looks like the Longview Longshoremen got a taste of their own medicine last week when their office was burglarized and trashed. Walls were reportedly spray painted with scrawl reading “ILWU Fags” and “Scabs.”

It could have been the work of anyone but there are some suspects who should be vetted. 

From their website:

ILWU/Supporters Assaulting Police

Burglars broke into the ILWU Local 21 Union Hall late Monday night, making off with cash and computers, vandalizing the facility, and causing thousands of dollars in damage to the hall.

They used red spray paint to scrawl slurs on walls, tables and a trophy case, using offensive language including “ILWU Fags” and “Scabs”.

Thieves also broke into a safe, taking blank checks, credit cards, ledgers, payroll and unemployment paperwork, and “a large amount of cash” that had recently been collected from dues, initiation fees, and the sale of union-themed items, Coffman said.

No word yet on who did it, but there may be only one group which would consider the Longshore union “scabs” and that would be the Operating Engineers union local 701 out of Gladstone, Oregon.

The Engineers union previously had the contract to do work at the Longview EGT before ILWU staged assaults, lawsuits and “protests” to force the company to use the Longshoremen. (See some of  my previous posts here)

The union itself or Occupy Portland sympathizers could have done it to engender sympathy from a disgusted public. It could have been done by a bunch of idiots, but I repeat myself. 

ILWU would know something about these tactics. This is from the police report during their assault on the EGT terminal last September (emphasis mine):

Also continuing is the investigation in to the Thursday morning assault and carjacking that took place on the EGT plantsite after security was overrun by a mob of ILWU supporters. At around 4:30 a.m., hundreds of supporters tore down fences, smashed windows, cut air hoses to a grain train, and opened the rail cars, spilling grain all over the ground. Several pieces of evidence, including bolt cutters, pipes, ILWU signs and fliers were left lying around the facility.

Also of great concern was the perception of safety by the security personnel on scene. After seeing all the cars and people massing, then pouring through their gates, smashing out the guardshack window with a baseball bat, and causing damage, the officers had no way out. They were blocked from leaving down E. Mill Road, and there was no other open access out of the facility. At some point they felt that their personal safety was at too great a risk, and they ran for a vehicle and headed towards a back gate. They reported that a group tried to block them in, but the lights of approaching law enforcement vehicles stopped the group and the officers were able to flee.

Breaking the law to make your point is never right.