Truckers Strike - Strategies & Demands

Discussion in 'Truckers Strike Forum' started by LongHaulHighway, Sep 2, 2013.

  1. LongHaulHighway

    LongHaulHighway Light Load Member

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    A lot of drivers talk about a national strike but I'm wondering exactly what the objectives would be and what some of the strategies would be to getting the word out and getting a wide variety of drivers on board. I sense that the objectives must appeal to the company driver, as well as the owner operator.

    In light of whatever demands will be outlined here, what is the minimum number of strike participants that must be reached in order to be effective?

    What is the minimum number of days the strike must last in order to reach the demands?

    Another topic of concern and discussion is blowback. In light of the Patriot Act and other anti-American legislation, could the government accuse key organizers of the strike of committing an act of terrorism or an act of war? A successful nationwide trucker strike could cripple the US economy quicker than the past few administrators. What other kinds of blowback might truckers or organizers of the strike face? Would citizens riot because food and other supplies have been cut off? Would citizens revolt against truckers because medical supplies not getting to a destination resulted in the death of a loved one?

    Would the US government and its media lapdogs fabricate a scenario to turn the general public against truckers on strike by inventing stories of poor old ladies and sick children not getting medical supplies? Would they show pictures of hungry children in small-town America whose grocery stores have been cut off? Would truckers then have citizens throwing stones through their windows or otherwise vandalizing their parked trucks?

    What demands could be made to get the general public on board?

    What are some key reasons why a nationwide strike hasn't happened yet? What obstacles must be overcome to pull this off?
     
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  3. double yellow

    double yellow Road Train Member

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  4. chalupa

    chalupa Road Train Member

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    Wow...a deep thinker and all good points. But sorry Mr. Newbie, not likely gonna happen. Been tried several times in my career and never got enough steam to get rolling....... it was always about "my bills, I have to roll" kind of stuff.

    And yes...gooberment would likely get involved around day 5 if it were big enough. Need enough truckers to empty store shelves...mmm 2 days for dairy and meat , produce and citrus , and 2 more for cans and powders to get serious attention.

    Well spoken and good points tho but ahh no.......not for a while anyway IMO. Just talk.......

    JMO
     
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  5. dracon

    dracon Light Load Member

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    You cant get two truck drivers to agree on a sunny day, and you want a consensus on a strike? Good luck.
    A strike/protest was tried once, remember the 70's? government stepped in within days and forced an end to it, and began over regulation. Whats the answer? I don't have a clue, but more regulation isn't it.
     
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  6. NewbiusErectus

    NewbiusErectus Medium Load Member

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    first you would have to organize big companies. Here's why. If i say, let's strike tomorrow - Are you with me? I didn't think so :)

    But if your company's drivers voted to bring in a union and the majority were members, well, now you can negotiate.

    But try talking to people about a union. Good luck.

    Someone posted a topic on here a few months ago where the possibility could be discussed. The thread was moved to some location where you have to sign in to see it, and cannot be found unless you're signed in and know where it is.

    So the first step is finding a means of communication that would reach thousands of like minded drivers.

    have you seen animal house? We have become a nation of people who prefer to say "thank you sir may I please have another"
     
  7. LongHaulHighway

    LongHaulHighway Light Load Member

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    I'm going to answer my questions to the best of my ability, but I would also like to add one more question:

    What would a significant date me to initiate the strike?

    I sense that the date should have symbolic meaning or chosen to cause the biggest impact. The strike could begin on the date:


    • a trucker committed suicide after being financially ruined.
    • a semi-truck collision killed someone or a group of people of people and the driver, due to the trucker falling asleep at the wheel (better pay means not having to work so many hours).
    • a particular piece of legislation was enacted.
    • freight is at a critical high.


    The first two suggestions are intended to garner the greatest sympathy from the public.


    What is the minimum number of strike participants that must be reached in order to be effective?

    There are approximately 2,000,000 trucks registered in the United States. OTR drivers are the foundation of the US supply line. If OTR drivers do not deliver to local distribution centers, local trucks are virtually useless. However, local trucks could be "activated" to make long haul runs but without sleepers, companies will be forced to provide motel accommodations. This would subsequently overcrowd motels and hotels and cause local-focused trucking companies and local divisions of OTR companies an additional expense (also being forced to pay local drivers increased pay). Ultimately, every variety of truck driver should be recruited to the strike. I sense that the target number must be at least 500,000 drivers, but much less may be able to create the necessary impact.


    What is the minimum number of days the strike must last in order to reach the demands?

    According to research conducted by the American Truckers Association, if semi-trucks stopped running nationwide, within 24 - 72 hours: gasoline and diesel will be in short supply at stations, food and medical supplies will run out at hospitals and nursing homes, garbage will begin to rapidly pile up as waste removal companies buckle under a quickening shortage of fuel, many ATMs will become useless, regular bank activity will cease, food shortages will avalanche under public panic and fresh produce will disappear, clean drinking water will disappear as water treatment facilities run short of cleaning agents delivered by trucks, and within hours countless just-in-time manufacturing plants (automakers, computer and electronics manufacturers, etc.) will grind to a halt.

    Such a scenario is if all semi-trucks stopped running. In the case of the strike, I propose that no truck delivering medical supplies or water treatment chemicals may participate in the strike.

    Since awareness of the strike is inevitable, and since there necessarily must be several months of planning, it is likely that numerous companies and government facilities and organizations will prepare for the strike. Strangely enough, this will have the predictable effect of increasing freight in the weeks and days leading up to the strike. . .if the heads of corporations and government believe the strike will have a sufficient number of participants.

    I sense that truckers must prepare themselves for no less than one week of striking. The reasoning is the same for laying siege to a castle when the occupants and garrison know much in advance that they are going to be attacked. I sense that it is improbable that stores, factories and banks will be able to stock enough reserves to withstand a week of a significant number of trucks striking.



    In light of the Patriot Act and other anti-American legislation, could the government accuse key organizers of the strike of committing an act of terrorism or an act of war?

    Yes. It is for this reason that a sufficient number of truckers must quickly flesh out the details of the strike and disseminate the plan throughout the trucking community at large. It is moreover important that the strike has no identifiable leadership--whether individual or organization. The strike must have no head that can be cut off, no man to be imprisoned, no organization to be paid off. It must spread like a virus, and every individual who becomes host to this idea must do his or her part to further its contagion.

    No individual or organization must be allowed to usurp the strike by claiming to be the central voice of it, lest that individual or organization dictate when the strike will end or attempt to use the energies of the strike to push an agenda outside or otherwise in conflict with the aims of the strike.

    The strike must not end until absolutely all demands have been met to the letter--period.

    Truckers who are veterans must ceaselessly mention their service in any on-camera, on-air or online statements pertaining to the strike.

    "As a veteran of the US Army, I'm supporting this strike because I feel strongly that it is simply unethical that my fellow American drivers--many of which are veterans like myself--are paid so little. After my service, I have returned to a country that economically on the brink of collapse. We need to stop hauling foreign goods and start demanding that jobs are returned to our shores. My support of this strike is directly a result of my unwavering support for my countrymen."


    What other kinds of blowback might truckers or organizers of the strike face? Would citizens riot because food and other supplies have been cut off? Would citizens revolt against truckers because medical supplies not getting to a destination resulted in the death of a loved one?

    Yes. Shortages of fuel and perishable food will most definitely cause panic and likely result in riots and an increase in theft and robberies. Restaurants will be forced to closed their doors, subsequently putting an untold number of Americans temporarily out of work. Lack of fuel will have the domino effect of people unable to get to work and public transportation systems will overflow.



    Would the US government and its media lapdogs fabricate a scenario to turn the general public against truckers on strike by inventing stories of poor old ladies and sick children not getting medical supplies? Would they show pictures of hungry children in small-town America whose grocery stores have been cut off? Would truckers then have citizens throwing stones through their windows or otherwise vandalizing their parked trucks?

    Yes. Truckers must be vigilant to stand guard over their trucks and fellow truckers. Every means of non-mainstream media and communication must be employed by truckers to drown-out the inevitable media spin that will be brought down by the mainstream media. Truckers must recruit as many non-drivers to the cause by getting on mobile devices and laptops and hammering social media sites with a positive pro-strike message and messages intended to garner sympathy from the public. Drivers and their non-driver supporters must be prepared to quickly address and discredit mainstream media lies, half-truths and propaganda.



    What demands could be made to get the general public on board?

    The strike must not be about what will benefit truckers but what will benefit Americans. We must demand legislation that protects American businesses who keep jobs in the United States. "We're tired of low-pay to haul low-quality foreign goods. Increase driver pay and put the American worker back in the workplace," should be the rallying cry.



    What are some key reasons why a nationwide strike hasn't happened yet? What obstacles must be overcome to pull this off?


    • The strike lacks a simple, effective and easily duplicated marketing plan. Templates for stickers and fliers must be distributed. A simple statement that truckers can say over the CB must be disseminated.
    • The strike lacks the emotional fire necessary to ignite the first flames. Every sticker, every flier and every stock message to be said over the citizens band radio waves must be designed to ignite fire in the bellies of men.
    • The strike lacks a specific list of demands that the majority of truckers can agree upon. These demands must be simple and extremely specific so that it is absolutely clear to all participants if and when demands are being met.
    • The strike has no specified date. I suggest between 3 - 6 months once marketing materials have been produced.
    • Truckers keep making up excuses not to strike and change our country for the good of all that would embarrass the Founding Fathers of these United States. The greatness of a nation rests upon whether or not its people are men and women of action. Who are we?
     
  8. LongHaulHighway

    LongHaulHighway Light Load Member

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    #### those glaring typos!

    Anyway. . .

    Is anyone going to provide some feedback?
     
  9. Lucar

    Lucar Road Train Member

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  10. Roadmedic

    Roadmedic Road Train Member

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    Easy to find the thread you mentioned. It went political and the password is thickskin.
     
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  11. Tonythetruckerdude

    Tonythetruckerdude Crusty Deer Slayer

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    Never happen...no way. Would it work...define work..if the definition is bring the US economy to a stand still , a truckers strike would/could do that...but what would the gain be ...nothing...absolutely nothing..all you would have would be hungry/cold/and MAD citizens nothing can be accomplished that way.....the folks in your local town/city/state/governor's mansion , not to mention those IN DC need to be shown they are not in control...the only way to do that is to start at the bottom...with those local elected officials in your town/city/and state...then DC...it might take a couple of election cycles...but "IF" each and every incumbent is voted out of office and replaced with a new official (knowing that he/she will have the same fate if they don't do what's expected).
     
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