ILWU PHOTO

ICYMI: The notorious Longshoreman, known to listeners of the Victoria Taft Show as the “Swearing Stevedore” (see potty mouth video below and you’ll see why *NSFW*) has reported to jail.

45 year old Ronald Stavas’ antics were part of a pattern of behavior by ILWU local 21 in Longview to intimidate the Export Grain Terminal into using their union for unloading and loading of grain. ILWU members used sticks, pipes, sabotage and riot to “protest” EGT’s use of another union–making union wages and union benefits –to unload grain cars.

When he wasn’t busy sabotaging rail cars, holding hostages and assaulting reporters for ILWU, it sounds like 45 year Ronald Stavas spent his time as a saint. From the Longview Daily News:

For backgrounder see these former posts.

 Stavas “is a decent person who’s paying a steep price for standing up for his job,” International Longshore and Warehouse Union spokeswoman Jennifer Sargent said in a statement Wednesday.

Several fellow union members and their families showed up to support Stavas when he reported to the Cowlitz County jail for his 22 day jail sentence. He’s also been ordered to do 80 hours of community service.

He and others held security guards, damaged rail cars and threatened security with a pipe:

Stavas was among scores of protesters who stormed the grain terminal around 5:18 a.m. Sept. 8, breaking windows, dumping grain from a train and damaging rail cars, according to authorities. During the raid, Stavas raised a metal pipe as if to strike a security guard, police said. Four days later, on Sept. 12, Stavas threatened the same security guard again, according to court documents.

This is the way the cops described the crime at the time (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.

 
Longshoremen protested the EGT Terminal in Longview for hiring another union from Oregon to unload grain headed for export.

The following video is what happened to KGW reporters seeking comment from the union.  It is unedited and is not safe for work (or young ears):