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We're sorry, this alert is no longer available. If you would like to learn more about ways you can take action, please visit Teamsters Take Action.The short explanation of this alert was:
Every day 16,000 port truck drivers haul containers to and from the busiest twin ports in the country to move the goods that Americans buy at Wal-Mart, Target and other big retailers. These workers keep our world's economy moving, yet they struggle to put food on the table, despite working as many as 14-15 hours a day.
The industry has cheated drivers out of basic rights, including access to health care and retirement benefits, as well as the right to even be called an employee. Now, the drivers are asking for your help in sending a message of support to the mayors of Los Angeles and Long Beach.
The exploitation experienced by Los Angeles area port drivers stems from a loophole in the law that misclassifies them as "independent contractors." Independent they are not. They may own their trucks, but most of these drivers are hired by -- and are at the mercy of -- a trucking company owners who refuse to take any responsibility as employers. These companies don't even pay workers' compensation or Social Security!
Expenses fall on the drivers, not the companies that hire them. After paying for gas, insurance and truck maintenance, many become minimum wage workers. The majority cannot afford to repair their old, diesel trucks -- the source of major pollution in the harbor region. Scroll down to tell the mayors that you support better standards and conditions for these drivers.
The San Pedro Bay Ports drivers want to change this, and they are asking for your help. They are speaking out to make the trucking industry take responsibility for cleaner, greener trucks so their families can breathe clean air.
Working in coalition with the Teamsters, community groups, and environmental organizations, drivers hope to put an end to the misclassification that has denied them the rights of employees, so they can earn a salary that supports a family, have safe working conditions, benefits for their families and the freedom to form a union.
How can you help these truck drivers get the respect and dignity they deserve? Send an email that says you support the Clean Trucks Program, an important step toward fixing the broken port trucking system.
Recently, environmentalists, community members, and nearly a third of the port-driver workforce presented Los Angeles and Long Beach officials more than 11,500 signed petitions. See exciting highlights of what happens when we raise our voices together.
You can add your voice to the growing movement to lift standards in this industry by sending this email to the mayors of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Send the message that port truckers deserve a fair shot at the American Dream.
If you would like to view details on this alert, please visit here.