Picketing Continues At State Pier

Members of Local 1413 of the International Longshoremen's Association are continuing their informational picketline at the State Pier in New Bedford.

According to Local Union President Ed Lacombe, his union is being denied the chance to load used cars onto a ship bound for Haiti.

Lacombe says non-union workers are being brought in from fall river to do the work, and he's not happy.

Lacombe says he was approached by someone associated with the vessel, the Malena, and they had a conversation.

"He says 'well come on don't you want to talk to me' I said 'no I can't, I don't talk on my own I gotta bring my board with me as witnesses. I don't work like that everything's above the table. I want workman's comp, I want you to contribute to our pension plan, and a decent hourly wage.' All conversation stopped after that," said Lacombe.

The loading process is scheduled to begin Friday.

Lacombe says the Port of New Bedford has been a "union shop" for decades, and it shouldn't be changed now.

But he admits, if non union workers are bused in on Friday, there is little he can do about it.