Truckers, Outside Contractors and Urinals

David Macaray | via Huff Post

Posted: 04/27/2014 8:04 pm EDT Updated: 04/27/2014 10:59 pm EDT

Beginning Monday, April 28, Southern California truck drivers at the Long Beach and San Pedro ports, will go on a limited two-day "exhibition" strike to protest what they see as a gross misclassification. Truckers as far away as Savannah, Georgia, are expected to join in the protest.

Needless to say, trucking companies are doing everything in their power to maintain their stranglehold on these drivers. Classifying them as "independent contractors" rather than "employees," works wholly in their favor, as it not only gives them near dictatorial powers, but prohibits drivers from seeking union representation.

Conversely, classifying them as "employees" opens up a wide array of choices, one of which is union membership. It doesn't mean they have to join a union, only that they can. As is so typical of methods used by management to squelch union drives, the companies insist that "most drivers" are happy with the current arrangement, and that it's the Teamsters who are fomenting trouble, in order to get more union dues.
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