“Basically both sides wanted to just go to work,” added Jake Ford, Local 21 vice president.

For the past year, EGT’s business has been thriving. In 2016, the terminal moved 6.6 million tons of grain , its best year since the terminal opened in 2012, according to the Port of Longview. Matthew Kerrigan, EGT manager, said the terminal expecting another strong year for exports in 2017.

The new contract will maintain the same wage structure as the previous contract, and any salary increases will be based on changes in the market, Roberts said. Local 21 also represents workers at the Temco grain terminal in Kalama, and its goal is to have all of its grain terminal workers make the same wages.

Local 21 has also been in ongoing negotiations with the Kalama Export Co. grain terminal for two and half years, but talks have stalled over pensions and other benefits, according to the union.

Under the new contract with EGT, workers will now be paid overtime for working Saturday. They also now will be paid more for working graveyard shifts, according to Local 21.