Hundreds of angry dockworkers marched from their union hall to the entrance of the State Ports Authority Columbus Street Terminal early today, where they pelted police with rocks, bricks and other debris.
At the initial protest Wednesday night, there were only two protesters, being guarded by 600 police officers in riot gear.
Then, at about midnight, there suddenly were 600 International Longshoremen’s Association workers in what became the worst labor disturbance on the Charleston waterfront since strikes of the late 1960s.
When the workers arrived at the terminal, the assembly quickly deteriorated as protesters hurled rocks and other debris at police.
Protesters, many carrying beer bottles and shouting obscenities, started throwing rocks and chanting “ILA, ILA” in the background.
Police brought in dogs as longshoremen started throwing rocks at them and tearing down the spotlights police had set up.
Several protesters were hurt. At 12:30 a.m., police cruisers charged through the crowd and fired a smoke grenade. Above it all, a police helicopter hovered.
Protesters ran back, and one worker got hit by the police car. ILA workers screamed at police, and a television cameraman trying to capture the event on film was beaten by several protesters. A news photographer also was struck with debris as protesters heaved parts of a railroad tie at police and overturned a temporary light pole.
Police over a loud speaker ordered the crowd to disperse, saying it had been declared an unlawful assembly. “There will be no innocent parties,” the officer said.
Ambulances started arriving on the scene.
At about 12:45 a.m., police started moving in and pushing protesters back away from the terminal, back toward the union hall from where they had marched.
Several protesters were taken into police custody.
Police from across the state had been on the scene since Tuesday afternoon in anticipation of the protest.
“If you’re training for some type of terrorist attack, I can understand this response,” Kenneth Riley Jr., president of ILA Local 1422 had said earlier in the day. “But you’re not dealing with a group of thugs here. These guys are hardworking, good citizens of the city.”
But when the crowd got out of hand early this morning, he was unable to calm the protesters. He was escorted away from the scene by several other ILA members.
The union’s initial low-key strategy was an interesting response after a tension-filled day on the waterfront.
Port leaders had been bracing for the worst. At 6:30 p.m., the entrance to the downtown shipping terminal was lined with police wearing riot helmets and carrying wooden clubs. Armored cars were seen driving through the terminal gates. A section of Morrison Drive and East Bay Street outside the terminal was sealed off. A police helicopter hovered above it all.
Meanwhile, a block away, hundreds of ILA longshoremen milled about the union’s fortress-like headquarters. Inside the hall, the mood was strangely lighthearted with a touch of mystery. About 6 p.m., members met behind closed doors. After the meeting broke up, the men were coy about their plans.
“It’s a game of chess,” said one longshoreman with a wry smile. “Be patient, you’ll get your story.” Nearby, men cracked jokes and slapped each other’s backs.
The ILA has held what it describes as “informational pickets” since early December when a Danish shipping line, Nordana, started using non-union dockworkers to load its ships.
The first two protests were relatively uneventful. But on Jan. 2, an estimated 75 union longshoremen roamed through the Columbus Street Terminal. They blocked the terminal gate for a short time, snarling traffic. Two non-union workers said they were assaulted, including one who was pulled out of his truck. Some equipment and cargo was vandalized.
Until today’s conflict, it was the most serious labor conflict the waterfront had seen in years and triggered fears about what might happen when the next Nordana vessel arrived.
Hoping to ward off another protest, union leaders met with Nordana representatives Tuesday afternoon in the offices of SPA president and chief executive officer Bernard S. Groseclose Jr.
In addition to Groseclose, others in the meeting included Riley, two Nordana officials and their non-union stevedore, Perry Collins of Winyah Stevedoring. Also present was Larry Young of Stevedoring Services of America, which hires ILA workers.
At one point, Riley offered to work the Nordana vessel for free.
Another scenario called for ILA longshoremen to work under the supervision of Winyah Stevedoring, Nordana’s non-union stevedore. This arrangement is known as “double-breasting” and is considered highly unusual in the shipping industry.
“We offered to work the ship for nothing. We had other deals on the table,” said a frustrated Riley after the meeting.
Ports authority leaders acted as facilitators during the meeting, a role Riley praised. “Bernie did a good job getting the parties together. That was definitely a plus. Unfortunately it got to an impasse.”
Indeed, the SPA is in a difficult spot.
By law, the SPA must let its terminals be used by union and non-union organizations. However, the Nordana-ILA conflict threatens to taint the port’s reputation for labor peace.
“Our interest is certainly to have peace on the waterfront,” Groseclose said after negotiations broke down, admitting that the situation “is a bit frustrating.”
He said he was especially concerned about the port’s image.
“Charleston has had an enviable reputation of having agreeable labor relationships, very smooth operations, and high productivity. And that’s a credit to the longshore labor, our people and all the parties. All this is something our customers pay attention to. ...Our reputation, quite frankly, is something we sell ourselves on, and I’m sure that some of our competitors (other ports) are licking their chops at what’s going on.”
Groseclose said Nordana representatives were willing to continue negotiations. “Everything depends on what happens to this ship,” he said Tuesday afternoon.
The Nordana Skodsborg docked about 7:20 p.m., SPA spokeswoman Anne Moise said. About 19 non-union longshoremen working for Winyah Stevedoring of Georgetown immediately began to load the vessel, authorities said. Moise said it would take up to 12 hours.
At 9 p.m., a police helicopter circled overhead with a searchlight. But there were no pickets.
A few minutes later, two lone picketers walked up the entrance road. They were met by about 100 Charleston police and state Highway Patrol troopers standing at the edge of the SPA’s property.
One protester carried a sign that said: “Unions promote experience, Better Economy, Better Wages.”
At 10:30 p.m., officers were overheard calling in for pizza reinforcements.
Back at the union hall, the men were still being coy.
“Keep your scanner on,” said one.
“Yeah, we’re a bunch of hellions, aren’t we,” said another.
“You learn in a war,” added Robert Ford, vice president of ILA Local 1422, “that you always have alternative strategies.“
