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14 CapitalPress.com October 21, 2016 Longshoremen oppose defunct subsidy program Port of Portland’s program sought to preserve container shipping By MATEUSZ PERKOWSKI Capital Press The longshoremen’s union is asking a federal appeals court to shut down a subsidy program at the Port of Port- land that’s already effectively defunct. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals recently heard OUR VISIT TE AND SI WEB OME A Y! BEC R TODA BE MEM oral arguments in the dispute, which pits the International Longshore and Warehouse Union against a program that paid ocean carriers to visit the Port of Portland’s container terminal. ILWU argues that the port used taxpayer dollars to bene- it a private corporation, which Almost Everything Starts 630 NW Hickory St. Suite 120; PMB 50 Albany, OR 97321 (503) 243-FARM (3276) www.owaonline.org ROP-41-4-4/#7 on a Farm or Ranch TO EDUCATE • TO PROMOTE • TO UNITE ROP-41-4-2/#7 violates Oregon’s constitution. However, the subsidy pro- gram is non-operational be- cause ocean carriers stopped calling at the Terminal 6 last year, citing work slowdowns by the longshoremen. The facility’s shutdown is a hardship for agricultur- al exporters who must now ship crops to Asia from more distant ports, increasing their transportation costs. Andrew Ziaja, attorney for ILWU, told the 9th Circuit that a federal judge incorrectly ruled that the subsidies were constitutional because the money was drawn from rent paid by ICTSI Oregon, the ter- minal operator. “The port commingled its tax revenue and its commer- cial revenue in the same fund and in the same bank account,” he said during oral arguments on Oct. 3. “It’s not possible to distinguish tax revenue from commercial revenue when looking at a commingled fund or a commingled bank ac- Mateusz Perkowski/Capital Press A container stacker operated by a longshoreman works at the Port of Portland’s container terminal in this Capital Press ile photo. The container terminal has stopped operating but the longshoremen’s union still opposes a subsidy program that attracted ocean carriers to the facility. count.” Randy Foster, attorney for the Port of Portland, said the agency used “suspenders, belt and superglue” accounting methods to keep the rent reve- nues separate from tax dollars. “The port knows through its accounting systems where the tax revenues are and how they are used,” he said. Just because a tax dollar is in the same bank account as commercial funds “does not infect those and prevent me from using those in the fu- ture,” Foster said, saying the ILWU’s theory “deies modern accounting and iscal manage- ment techniques.” It’s unclear exactly what the longshoremen’s union would have to gain from a fa- vorable ruling by the 9th Cir- cuit. Not only is the subsidy program non-operational, but it attracted container trafic to the port that kept ILWU mem- bers employed. Representatives and attor- neys of the ILWU did not re- spond to requests for comment by Capital Press. The ongoing litigation is likely an example of the “long- shore mentality” of biting into something and not letting go, said Jim Tessier, a longshore labor consultant and former employee of the Paciic Mar- itime Association, which rep- resents terminal operators. “They operate on a lot of emotion,” Tessier said. “They don’t like losing and nobody tells them what to do.” Melanie Mesaros, a spokes- woman for the port, said the Port of Portland is defending the subsidies because it hopes that ocean carriers will return to the container facility. “We are committed to re- storing container service at Terminal 6,” she said. Mesaros also noted that litigation over the subsidy program is just one lawsuit in roughly a dozen iled be- tween the longshoremen’s union, the port and the termi- nal operator. During October, Real Men Wear Pink in Support of American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Men from across community raise awareness and funds in the fight to end breast cancer In its inaugural year in Portland, 20 prominent area men will take a stand against breast cancer by supporting the American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of Portland through participation in the Real Men Wear Pink campaign. Throughout the month of October, Real Men Wear Pink candidates will encourage women in their lives and in the community to take action in the fight against breast cancer. “In addition to wearing pink and raising awareness about breast cancer issues, these men will be raising funds to help the American Cancer Society save more lives from breast cancer,” said Neah Jackson, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Event Manager for the American Cancer Society. “Funds raised allow the Society to be there for those touched by breast cancer, from research to education, prevention to diagnosis, and treatment to recovery, the Society provides support to everyone impacted by the disease. Every action we take moves us one step closer to a world free from the pain and suffering caused by breast cancer.” Each Real Men Wear Pink candidate is charged with a fundraising challenge and will compete to be the top fundraiser among the other candidates by the end of the campaign. University of Oregon; Tyler Thomas, Coulter Printing; Will Roth, SW Office Supply “No one should have to face a breast cancer diagnosis alone,” said Dave Rogers. “That’s why I joined the American Cancer Society in support of their lifesaving work by becoming a candidate in the Real Men Wear Pink campaign. This is a cause I personally believe in, and as a candidate, I’m committed to raising awareness and funds for the Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer efforts.” The 2016 Real Men Wear Pink candidates are: Billy Van Dahm, Orangewood RV Center; Brian Wood, KATU News This Morning; Connor Laubenstein, Veracity; Dan Buckley, Horizon Air; Danny Dwyer, Alpha Media/98.7 The Bull; Dave Rogers, American Cancer Society; Dave Sullivan, Perkins and Company; Davontra Ford, Dynasty Ford Cheer/Portland State Cheerleading; Huggie, Alpha Media/Live 95.5; Jacob Newberry, CutCo; Keith Fuller, Fred Meyer Jewelers; Dr. Kris Dozier, Kaiser; Lars Ostlind, Boeing; Mark Clifford, Portland Public Schools; Peter Engel, Fred Meyer Jewelers; Ron Benfield, PeaceHealth; Sean Kollman, OHSU/Blazers Stunt Team; Terry Shanley, Pavillion Construction; Troy Elias, Real Men candidates were either nominated by close friends, family or colleagues, or volunteered in support of the cause. Fundraising for the campaign began October 1, and each Real Man is tasked with raising a minimum of $2,500, which will help the Society continue to provide life-saving programs and services in the community. It’s not too late to support the Real Men Wear Pink challenge – log onto MakingStridesWalk.org/RealMenPortlandMetro. According to the American Cancer Society Cancer Facts & Figures 2016, an estimated 246,660 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer and an estimated 40,450 will die from the disease this year. In Oregon, 3,430 women will be diagnosed this year and 500 will die from the disease. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, and it is the most common cancer diagnosed in women other than skin cancer. “Our community can make a huge impact in the fight against breast cancer,” said Neah Jackson, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event manager. “We are grateful to our Real Men Wear Pink participants for lending their voices to our cause and fighting for everyone touched by breast cancer.” 43-2/#13 For more information about breast cancer or the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk in Portland, visit MakingStridesWalk.org/PortlandOR or call 800-227-2345.