Arrests, injuries reported at C&H Sugar refinery strike line in Crockett

CROCKETT, Calif. (KGO) -- A strike at the C&H Sugar refinery in Crockett turned tense Tuesday as deputies declared an unlawful assembly, detained several striking workers and responded to reports of injuries on the picket line.

Authorities warned workers they could be arrested if they did not leave the area. By late afternoon, 10 striking workers had been taken away in handcuffs and detained, according to witnesses at the scene.

Earlier in the day, at least one picketer was taken to a hospital. Union leaders said two workers were injured after motorists drove through the picket line.

From SKY7 video, law enforcement officers could be seen establishing a perimeter with yellow tape while deputies and fire personnel responded to the scene.

Trent Willis, vice president of ILWU Local 10, said members of both Local 6 and Local 10 were on the picket line. Willis said replacement workers were at the refinery and that additional replacement workers arrived Saturday night.

RELATED: C&H offloads sugar at industrial terminal in East Bay due to strike, sparking health concerns

According to Willis, two drivers drove through protesting longshore workers. He said the workers were not attempting to block those drivers.

Union leaders said two picketers were injured.

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

Witnesses said one of the detained workers shoved a deputy before being taken into custody.

The dispute is part of an ongoing strike at the C&H Sugar refinery. Workers have been on strike since mid-June over issues including overtime pay, retirement benefits and health care benefits.

Union officials contend that C&H has not been bargaining in good faith. The company has said it offered a 20% increase over the next five years.

In a statement, a C&H spokesperson said, "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 as well as unlawfully blocking commerce in and out of our refinery."

The statement continued: "We call on the ILWU to stop the reckless, dangerous and illegal activity, and come to the table to finalize an agreement."

As deputies continued ordering people to leave the area Tuesday, union leaders said the two injured workers were members of Local 10. One worker was transported to Kaiser Permanente Richmond Medical Center for treatment.

The labor dispute remains unresolved as union members continue their strike against the refinery.