Union blames port of Portland for driving away business

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The running saga of two jobs plugging, unplugging and monitoring reefers at the US west coast of port of Portland has continued for several weeks, and has found its way to court. Dockworker union reps say that the two jobs, which have been performed by electricians for the past 30 years, should be theirs, while the port authority and terminal operator ICTSI have accused dockers of staging an illegal go-slow. The port’s two box line customers – Hanjin and Hapag-Lloyd – are diverting ships to Seattle. It’s all going to end in tears.