Drivers from two more LA-LB drayage companies to strike Tuesday Harbor truck drivers in Southern California on Tuesday will add two more drayage companies to the three that they went on strike against Monday. The drivers, who have been striking drayage companies in Los Angeles-Long Beach on and off during much of the year, are claiming wage theft and misclassification, and are seeking to be organized by the Teamsters union. Justice for Port Truckers, which is affiliated with the Teamsters, on Monday initiated strikes against QTS Inc., LACA Express and WinWin Logistics. Drivers early Monday began picketing the yards operated by those companies, as well as six container terminals in the port complex. Later in the day, after holding a rally in the harbor area, Justice for Port Truckers announced that drivers would begin striking at Pacer and Harbor Rail Transport on Tuesday. The trucker strikes have not interfered with cargo-handling or truck access at the ports. In order to interfere with cargo-handling, longshoremen would have to refuse to cross the picket lines. However, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union has so far chosen not to honor the pickets. The Teamsters union does not represent any company at the ports. Nevertheless, the increasing intensity of picketing by truckers is adding to the uncertainty that already exists at the busiest U.S. port complex. The ILWU has been working without a contract since July 1. With no contract in place, the grievance procedure that allows the ILWU and Pacific Maritime Association to seek immediate arbitration in health and safety cases is suspended, so there would be remedy for employers should the longshoremen choose to honor the pickets. The Teamsters union for several years now has been attempting to organize harbor truckers at container ports across the country. The union’s current strategy is to claim that drivers are company employees, rather than independent contractors, as most harbor truckers are classified. Unions can not organize independent contractors, but they are free to organize company employees. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti has been involved in the harbor trucking issues since July when the drivers struck TTSI, Green Fleet Systems and Pac-9 Transportation. Garcetti brokered a cooling-off period between those three trucking companies and the drivers, which lasted until last week. The Teamsters addressed the Los Angeles Harbor Commission last week and threatened to resume their strikes again those three companies. Garcetti then brokered another cooling-off period, and talks have resumed at those companies. The strikes Monday and Tuesday will be the first actions announced against the five new companies that are being targeted. JOC NEWS - NOV 17 2014
Posted on: Tue, 18 Nov 2014 03:42:32 +0000
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