LA Port Truck Drivers Resume Strike

Port truck drivers from two of Los Angeles’ leading drayage firms –Total Transportation Services Inc. (TTSI) and Pacific 9 Transportation (Pac 9) – resumed picketing at company offices and marine terminals at the twin ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, through which more than 40 percent of the nation’s imports are moved.

In July, drivers went on an indefinite strike to protest what they termed “severe and continuing labor law violations” – the drivers’ fourth such strike in a year. After five days of picketing Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti brokered a “cooling off” period, which included a critical agreement by companies to accept all drivers back to work without retaliation.

According to the strikers, “Despite commitments to Mayor Garcetti, the companies have dramatically escalated retaliatory activity, clearly violating the terms of the cooling off period. These retaliations include the firing of 35 drivers by TTSI for refusing the withdraw their claims for wage theft and publicly denounce the Teamsters Union and a dramatic increase in illegal deductions from driver paychecks by Pac 9, leaving some drivers with negative paychecks – and many working below minimum wage.”

Drivers at Green Fleet Systems (GFS) have agreed to remain in the “cooling off” period as productive discussions, which began during the course of litigation, are continuing between the company owner and the Teamsters union. GFS drivers have gone on strike four times in the past year to protest unfair labor practices by their employer.

 

Category: Featured, General Update