Monday, July 14, 2014
Some independent truckers defend truck companies as union truckers continue to strike L.A.-Long Beach ports
On Thursday, the fourth day of a strike by union-supported port truck drivers at marine terminals and truck yards at the Ports of Los Angles and Long Beach, a group of independent truckers congregated to defend two of the three trucking companies under fire.
Truck drivers from Green Fleet Systems and Pacific 9 Transportation Inc. met at The Grand Long Beach Event Center to protest alleged intimidation by the Teamsters, their intention to remain independent and their worry over the harassment of their customers. Many also said they were treated well by their companies, including receiving holiday pay and benefits.
"We will lose our jobs," said one driver. "We depend on our customers."
The more than 50 truck drivers at the event cheered as several drivers spoke about union members disrupting their privacy at home, jumping on their trucks and yelling profanities at them.
"The majority of us don’t want to be represented by them," said Xiomara Perez-Barrayan, who has worked at Green Fleet for three years.
Julie Gutman Dickinson, an attorney representing the Teamsters, said that every allegation the trucking companies have made against the union has been dismissed.
"Green Fleet and Pac 9 have egregiously violated employees rights," she said, referring to the complaints of more than 50 allegations of assault, harassment and unfair firing by Green Fleet.
"They are putting their employees up against employees who want to unionize," Dickinson said. "They are shielding employees’ right to choose and many support the union in silence because the employer has created an atmosphere that spreads fear and intimidation rather than dealing with its employees and their conditions."
The union drivers say they are striking due to unfair labor practices, low wages and the misclassification of drivers as independent contractors instead of employees, which allows the truck companies to skirt labor laws and paying lower wages.
Port officials reported minimal impact on cargo loading and unloading as pickets continued Thursday at APL, Evergreen and Yusen at the Port of Los Angeles, and at ITS, LBCT and TTI at the Port of Long Beach.
For more of the Press-Telegram story: www.presstelegram.com
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