Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Truckers at 3 companies near LA port stage strike (aimed at Walmart supply chain)
from TheTrucker, source AP
LOS ANGELES — Dozens of truckers working for three companies that take goods to and from the Port of Los Angeles are striking.
The truckers say the companies have prevented them from unionizing and improperly classified them as contractors — rather than employees — to minimize wages and benefits.
The walkouts began early Monday morning and will last until Tuesday afternoon.
A spokesman for two of the companies, Green Fleet Systems and Pac9, called the strikes "desperate acts" that won't force change because most employees oppose unionizing.
The truckers say the companies have prevented them from unionizing and improperly classified them as contractors — rather than employees — to minimize wages and benefits.
The walkouts began early Monday morning and will last until Tuesday afternoon.
A spokesman for two of the companies, Green Fleet Systems and Pac9, called the strikes "desperate acts" that won't force change because most employees oppose unionizing.
The Real News Network has a segment on it, and explains the strike was aimed at Walmart's supply chain. Not a small detail.
POLLIN: Well, yes. I mean, I think it's very important that we're seeing the Walmart workers, retail workers, we're seeing fast food workers, and now we're seeing truckers going out on short-term strikes because--why? Because their conditioned have deteriorated. The union strength is weak, so without the formal role of the union behind them, their bargaining power has worsened. And they see the inequality that has arisen in the country, after all. Since the recession ended in 2009, 95 percent of all the income gains has gone to the top 1 percent. The real wages of workers has stagnated or declined. They're below where they were 40 years ago in real inflation-adjusted dollars. And so that's what is driving these strikes. And it is very important that it has now moved on to truckers, who have been badly exploited and need this kind of pushback.
DESVARIEUX: Do you think these type of protests and strikes are effective?
POLLIN: Well, they're better than not doing them at all. I think it's very important that working people are starting to raise their voices and demand better conditions, fighting for a higher minimum wage. I mean, the struggle for a $15 minimum wage did at least yield something. In California is passed a $10 minimum wage starting in 2016. Now, that's not good enough, but if there hadn't been the fight over the last several months and arguing in behalf of the $15 minimum wage, we wouldn't have the biggest state in the union passing a $10 minimum wage. That's how politics works.
DESVARIEUX: Do you think these type of protests and strikes are effective?
POLLIN: Well, they're better than not doing them at all. I think it's very important that working people are starting to raise their voices and demand better conditions, fighting for a higher minimum wage. I mean, the struggle for a $15 minimum wage did at least yield something. In California is passed a $10 minimum wage starting in 2016. Now, that's not good enough, but if there hadn't been the fight over the last several months and arguing in behalf of the $15 minimum wage, we wouldn't have the biggest state in the union passing a $10 minimum wage. That's how politics works.
Video below. Solidarity!