>I'm convinced the ILWU scared off a lot of potential marine traffic from the port. I think the Longshoremen required 4 hours pay just to tie up a barge or vessel. One shipper was building a barge landing near Warrenton just get away from the ILWU and the port. Heard about it from a friend whose dad was a longshoreman. Probably the longshoremen picketed that job as they did the Wauna mill.

Not that I am defending the ILWU or onerous union work rules, but in this case it actually sounds like a reasonable minimum charge.

Too many equate the belief that they should only pay what they consider a reasonable fee for the work while it actually being done. If you were to do this, in some cases it doesn't even pay a qualified worker to even drive to the work site, much less make a reasonable living. If you can't provide steady predictable work, be prepared to pay more for qualified workers or contractor just to stand by and be available at your beck and call. That is an unfortunate reality of business.

Just like the rail customer that demands rail service, wants premium service at a bargain rate, wants it scheduled at their sole convenience, demands an unlimited car supply at a moments notice for seasonal/erratic traffic, and does it in part to keep their trucking rates low. Several years ago they closed the locks on the Columbia River for several weeks to do scheduled repairs. The farmers started raising holy hell that the railroads were going to screw them over on rates and lack of car supply and service during the lock closure. It still happens almost every grain rush with the railroads, but no mention is made about the times grain isn't moving and the railroads are choking on empty cars and no loads for them.