Judge warns Wash. union to halt illegal tactics

LONGVIEW, Wash. (AP) — A federal judge is ordering union protesters to halt illegal activity as they battle for the right to work at a new grain terminal in Washington state.

U.S. District Judge Ronald Leighton issued a preliminary injunction to restrict union activity, saying Thursday there was no defense for the aggressive tactics used in recent days. Protesters blocked the pathway of a train twice on Wednesday, and police say they broke windows and dumped grain at the Port of Longview terminal Thursday morning.

Leighton says he feels like a paper tiger because the union clearly ignored a temporary restraining order he issued last week with similar limits. He now wants to hold a hearing to determine whether the union should be held in civil contempt. Leighton says he fears someone is going to be seriously hurt.

Tags: updates, news, national, unions