Last week, a friend of mine was asked by Weststaff, a Seattle temp agency, if he was willing to do work at the Port of Seattle involving shipping containers. The date he was given was after Thanksgiving. The pay rate was $7.50/hr.
Now there are non-union barge companies in the Puget Sound area that ship containers, but this work offer sounds suspicious. After Thanksgiving? Could that be November 30th? Is this the PMA preparing for disruptions of shipping because of WTO protests?
Eric Dee
Kenneth Morgan adds:
In San Francisco, Westaff, which used to be called Western Temp, has a history of hiring scabs, including a ILWU Local 6 strike, during the 80's, so your concern is well placed.
