28 Apr Truckers Strike Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach
On Monday, April 27, 2015, port truck drivers serving the nation’s largest port complex began a strike of four major drayage firms at the twin ports of Los Angeles/Long Beach, where a crippling slowdown in early 2015 sent shock waves through the U.S. economy.
Primary picket lines were manned at several marine and truck yards in the greater Los Angeles area and in San Diego, and truckers and their supporters are picketing company trucks at marine terminals, rail yards, and customer warehouses as far away as the US/Mexico border, according to the Teamsters Union.
In a breaking development, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Port Division and Green Fleet Systems, LLC, issued the following joint statement this morning, which avoided a strike at that company:
“We are pleased to announce that Green Fleet Systems, LLC, and the Teamsters Union have entered into a comprehensive labor peace agreement designed to ensure that Green Fleet’s drivers have an opportunity to exercise their rights under the National Labor Relations Act and, if they choose, to select an exclusive representative for purpose of collective bargaining. This agreement also allows for the orderly conduct of business and insures that Green Fleet’s loyal customers will continue to receive their deliveries timely and without interruption.”
Striking drivers are picketing the following companies:
- Intermodal Bridge Transport (IBT)
- Pacific 9 Transportation (Pac 9)
- Pacer Cartage (LA region and San Diego) (NYSE: XPO)
- Harbor Rail Transport (NYSE: XPO)
Additionally, drivers and their supporters are picketing company trucks as they enter marine terminals at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, rail yards throughout the region, and customer warehouses as far east as Mira Loma and as far south as the U.S. Mexico border.
Since drivers last struck in November 2014, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has joined the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), California courts, the California Division Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE), Employment Development Department (EDD), and Disability Insurance (SDI), in ruling that drivers are misclassified as “independent contractors.” As a result of the U.S. DOL ruling, major drayage company Shippers Transport Express (STE) reclassified its “independent contractors” as employees.
The Shippers drivers’ victory has inspired other misclassified drivers to escalate their demands to be recognized as employees and end the wage theft. In their fight to hold onto an illegal business model, company owners are continuing to harass, intimidate, and coerce drivers.
Additionally, the drivers have launched a national petition asking Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia to ban law-‐breaking for profit from the ports.