Exclusive: California truck drivers go on strike

[Omaha Steve]

Source: MSNBC

By Ned Resnikoff

California truck drivers at three major transportation companies went on strike Monday morning, demanding an end to purported labor law violations such as misclassification and intimidation. This is the fourth strike initiated by the drivers with the backing of the Teamsters union, but it’s the first without a definitive end date; whereas previous strikes have lasted between 24 and 48 hours, the drivers are now saying the won’t return to work until their demands are met.

“We were fed up. It just got to the point where the drivers are done,” said Alex Paz, a former driver with TTSI, one of the three firms affected by the strikes. Paz, who was fired in late May, alleges that the firm retaliated against him after he spoke out regarding purported labor law violations.

Over 120 drivers will be going on strike at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, two of the main supply arteries on the West Coast. Roughly 40% of all imports to the United States go through one of those two ports. The firms affected by the strike are responsible for shipping goods to major retailers such as Walmart and Target.

FULL story at link.


Read more: http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/exclusive-california-truck-drivers-go-strike

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Poll: Do you support the California truck drivers’ decision to go on strike?

At this time at the link 90% support the strike!!!

[Populist_Prole]

1. Darned union thugs!

Really though, I'm glad to see so much public support in that poll.

[unionthug777]

10. i resemble that remark !!!

[In_The_Wind]

2. They got my vote.

[conservaphobe]

3. "such as Walmart and Target"

[Omaha Steve]

4. Labor chimes in

https://www.facebook.com/changetowin

[abelenkpe]

5. Yes I support their strike and yes they deserve more benefits

We all do. No matter what industry we work in. We should demand it for others and ourselves.

[jen63]

20. Voted!

I agree, that they deserve more benefits than they receive. My ex was a trucker and the job takes a terrible toll on the body. I don't just mean in increased hours, but on the actual physical body.

[senseandsensibility]

6. k and r

I support them.

[Booster]

7. Done. Please vote everybody.

[Rhiannon12866]

8. K&R and voted!

[ballyhoo]

9. I had to join the Teamsters when I unloaded

trucks at Transcon in Los Angeles for college money. They treated everybody real well and paid good wages. I support them 100 per cent.

[Iwillnevergiveup]

11. Kicked, rec'd, voted!

Wow, that is going to make such a difference on the 710 freeway. That said, I hope they get better working conditions and treatment.

[nolabels]

12. A lot of the truckers wish they could get those dang four-wheelers off the road

Back about 20yrs ago when i drove trucks for a bit, you would hear them on the squawk-box (c.b.'s) talk about the four-wheelers like they were the scourge of the earth.

One big reason they like drive slower than anybody else because it isn't no fun running something over, especially a four-wheeler

[moondust]

13. The guys

holding down the padded chairs under the air conditioners all day are not going to like this one bit. Nope.

[daleanime]

14. K&R....

[sueh]

15. K & R and hell YEAH I support their strike.

I work in the shipping dept at my job and I see every day the hard work these truck drivers do.

[mackerel]

16. Where? Port of Oakland?

[KamaAina]

21. Apparently just L.A. and Long Beach

for now, anyway.

[Omaha Steve]

17. CNN: California port strike could hinder economy

http://www.kspr.com/life/money/California-port-strike-could-hinder-economy/21052342_26826838

By Patrick M. Sheridan

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -

A strike that could put a crimp in the U.S. economy is underway on the West Coast.

About 120 truck drivers walked off the job against three transport companies at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. The drivers claim the companies are treating them unfairly and have intimidated them.

The Southern California ports are among the busiest in the world. A wider, prolonged work stoppage could have a significant impact on the economy because the ports are responsible for more than 40% of imports coming into the United States.

"Everybody uses those ports... retailing, manufacturing, agriculture," said Jonathan Gold, a supply chain expert for the National Retail Federation, a trade group."They are very important ports and disruptions will be felt far and wide."

The drivers, considered non-unionized independent contractors, are backed by the powerful Teamsters union. They say the strike will go on until their demands are met.

FULL story at link.

[B Calm]

18. Done

[lonestarnot]

19. Con mucho gusto.