Cargill defects longshore union offer rejected

Cones mark a new alternate entrance to the Port of Portland's Terminal 5. The Port and Columbia Grain Inc. added a second gate so replacement workers could use one entrance, in the event of a lockout, and employees of other companies could use another to bypass the union picket line.

As Cargill defected, three other owners of Northwest grain terminals rejected a longshore union offer Monday, dismissing it as uncompetitive.

Members of longshore union locals will vote Friday and Saturday on an earlier “last, best and final” offer by the employers’ coalition. The union negotiating team unanimousl...