Ten Workers Detained as Motorists Drive Through C&H Sugar Strike Line in Crockett

Deputies detained ten striking workers and declared an unlawful assembly at the C&H Sugar refinery in Crockett, California on Tuesday after two motorists drove through a picket line, injuring two union members, according to ABC7 San Francisco. At least one injured worker was transported to Kaiser Permanente Richmond Medical Center for treatment as tensions escalated on the strike line.

The confrontation marks the most significant escalation since workers from International Longshore and Warehouse Union Locals 6 and 10 walked off the job in mid-June over disputes regarding overtime pay, retirement benefits, and health care coverage.

What Happened at the Picket Line

Authorities established a perimeter with yellow tape and warned workers they faced arrest if they remained in the area. By late afternoon, deputies had detained ten striking workers in handcuffs, according to witnesses at the scene.

"We're letting truckers know what's going on, you're crossing a picket line and money and our jobs away from us," said Frank Gaskin, a striking worker at the refinery.

Trent Willis, vice president of ILWU Local 10, said two drivers drove through protesting longshore workers Tuesday morning. Willis stated that workers were not attempting to block the drivers. Two picketers sustained injuries in the incidents, with one requiring hospital transport. Witnesses reported that one detained worker shoved a deputy before being taken into custody.

Replacement workers have been operating inside the refinery since Saturday night, Willis said, as the company continues production during the strike.

Competing Claims Over Picket Line Conduct

C&H Sugar disputed the union's account of events in a company statement issued Tuesday. "Union members outside our gates are engaged in reckless and unsafe actions, endangering the health and safety of drivers, independent contractors and their fellow employees," a company spokesperson said. The statement added that workers were "unlawfully blocking commerce in and out of our refinery."

The company called on the ILWU to "stop the reckless, dangerous and illegal activity, and come to the table to finalize an agreement."

Union officials rejected the company's characterization and maintained that C&H has not been bargaining in good faith since negotiations stalled. The company has offered a 20% wage increase over five years, but workers have rejected the proposal, citing concerns over changes to overtime structures and benefit packages.

The escalation comes amid broader concerns about workplace safety during labor disputes where employers deploy aggressive counter-tactics. Deputies' declaration of an unlawful assembly and subsequent arrests represent a significant shift in law enforcement's response to the Crockett strike.

Strike Background and Unresolved Issues

Workers at the C&H Sugar refinery initiated the strike in mid-June after contract negotiations broke down. The dispute centers on three primary issues: overtime pay structures, retirement benefit modifications, and health care coverage changes that union members say would shift more costs onto workers.

ILWU Local 6 represents production workers inside the refinery, while Local 10 represents longshore workers who handle sugar shipments at the industrial terminal. Members from both locals have maintained picket lines at the refinery entrance since the strike began.

The company's 20% wage offer over five years has not resolved the core disputes over benefit structures. Union representatives contend that the wage increase would be offset by increased health care costs and reduced overtime opportunities under the company's proposed contract language.

No negotiations are currently scheduled between the company and union representatives. The labor dispute remains unresolved as both sides maintain their positions.

Context and Outlook

The arrests and injuries at the C&H Sugar strike line represent an intensification of a dispute that has entered its second month with no resolution in sight. The company's decision to bring in replacement workers and the subsequent confrontations on the picket line follow a pattern seen in other prolonged strikes where employers seek to maintain operations during work stoppages.

The involvement of ILWU Local 10 longshore workers alongside the refinery's production workers demonstrates cross-local solidarity that can complicate employer strategies to resume normal operations. However, the sheriff's department's declaration of an unlawful assembly and willingness to detain workers may signal tighter restrictions on picketing activity going forward.

Whether the company will return to the bargaining table or continue operations with replacement workers remains unclear. Union officials have not announced plans to suspend picketing despite Tuesday's arrests.