[xoxoxoBruce]

As I understand it this started a year ago when this new monster grain handling facility built by EGT, a joint venture between one of the big three agribusiness giants Bunge North America, Japanese trading company ITOCHU and Korean shipper STX Pan Ocean, with a big dose of taxpayer money, initially opened negotiations with the longshore union, but then broke off negotiations and sued the port over its right to hire other workers.

In July, the company hired contractor General Construction Co. to operate the $200 million terminal with 25 to 35 members of the Gladstone-based International Union of Operating Engineers Local 701, in violation of the port agreement.

EGT relented when the longshoremen, with the help of Occupy Portland and support of a number of other are unions effectively shut down the port, but demanded concessions.

Now the other terminals are following EGT's lead in demanding concessions from the unions.