By STEVE BROWN

Capital Press

LONGVIEW, Wash. -- A district judge declared two union locals in contempt Sept. 15 for violating his orders to restrict their activities at a grain terminal at the Port of Longview.

U.S. District Judge Robert Leighton found Local 4 and Local 21 of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union in civil contempt, saying there was no defense for the aggressive tactics.

The Sept. 8 incident at the Longview port saw hundreds of workers storm the facility, detain guards, dump grain and damage facilities. The longshoremen are protesting the decision by EGT LLC to engage workers through a different union, the Portland-based Operating Engineers Local 701.

Leighton scheduled a Sept. 30 hearing on expenses.

On Sept. 16, several hundred ILWU demonstrators rallied at the Cowlitz County Hall of Justice. Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office personnel heard about the rally from news media about 30 minutes before the event when they called asking what was happening.

"Today's event was peaceful, uneventful and a great example of what we expect from protesters," Cowlitz County Sheriff Mark Nelson said. "They came, lawfully protested and let their issues be heard. No need for us to do anything; no laws were broken."

Sheriff's deputies arrested six more people last week in connection with the Sept. 7 labor-related incidents at the Port of Longview.

Arrested were:

* Phillip D. Schill, age 45, of Kelso.

* Byron J. Jacobs, 28, Longview.

* Guy E. Tow, 45, Longview.

* Michael K. Muller, 54, Longview.

* Christopher J. Barber, 39, Kelso.

* Randy K. Johnson, 47, Longview.

They were booked and released on second-degree criminal trespass and obstructing or delaying a train. They were ordered appear in Cowlitz County District Court for arraignment next week, the sheriff's department said.

Deputies are continuing their investigation into both the train obstruction incident on the afternoon of Sept. 7 and the EGT Terminal breech and vandalism during the early morning hours of Sept. 8.