Joint Council 7 Newsletter
Thousands rally for good jobs
and clean air at Port of Oakland
Hoffa joins demonstration for port drivers’ rights
“Port drivers are on the front lines of the fight for clean air and good jobs.” So said Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa to the rally of 3,000 environmental, community and labor advocates on July 22 outside the offices of the Port of Oakland. “They toil away every day earning poverty level wages and can’t afford to maintain their older trucks, which are pumping out toxic pollution.”
The event was co-sponsored by the Coalition for Clean & Safe Ports, the California Labor Federation, and the Central Labor Council of Alameda County. Rally participants delivered the message that it is time to stop poisoning the environment with deadly truck emissions and make the industry responsible for modernizing the port truck fleet.
The Port of Los Angeles unanimously approved a plan earlier this year to adopt a sustainable clean trucks program. Their program includes provisions for the trucking companies to take responsibility for the trucks and the drivers who drive under their banner. This means admitting that the drivers are employees and not independent contractors; paying them a living wage and decent benefits; and retrofitting the trucks so they don’t spew dirty diesel exhaust.
“L.A. was the first but Oakland will be second,” vowed Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums, as he and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa helped kick off the march to the port.
“The system doesn’t work for the truckers who do the work,” explained Assemblymember Loni Hancock. “Trucks are a major source of diesel pollution and high asthma rates, but truck drivers are exploited. Now is the time to design a new system that gives truckers a living wage and benefits, and that ensures that we hire locally for those good jobs, and make them green jobs.”
Joint Council President and IBT Port Director Chuck Mack had the honor of introducing IBT Secretary- Treasurer Tom Keegel and President Hoffa. But before doing so, he thanked the Coalition for Clean and Safe Ports for their ongoing work. “When everyone understands how an issue impacts them, then you have a chance to make change. What’s been accomplished in Los Angeles and what will be accomplished here by this broad coalition could not have been done by Teamsters alone.”
After the rally was over, Hoffa took a few moments to talk to the port drivers directly. “I told the port drivers that we will not rest until we have economic justice. That means changing the law so they can be employees and demand a good union. I promise you, we will never stop until we succeed.”
Port drivers tell their own story:
AJ:
Port driver for 7 years
We live paycheck to paycheck. More than half of our income goes to fuel, insurance, maintenance. When I started, fuel was 98¢/gallon. I’d rather park my truck and go to work for someone else—at least I’d get health insurance, which I can’t afford now.
Cliff Coleman:
Port driver for 3 years
I was a Teamster cement truck driver but had to quit when I got injured. I decided to buy my own vehicle. It was tough when fuel was $3/gallon, but I’m down and out scared now. I want to be a Teamster again to have that security of being an employee.
Tony Bal:
Port driver for 14 years
When I started, gas was 85¢/gallon. There was less competition and we got better rates. This industry is like jungle rule— the big fish eats the small fish. Better to be under one banner and have representation than to be on our own.
Ghermai Ogbe:
Port driver for 8 years
Wages are the same as when I started, but gas prices are going up. We get no respect. We can’t afford to buy new trucks or retrofit them with the wages they pay us. Somebody—the Port, the city, the shipping companies— has to step up.
Aaron Lan:
Port driver for 7 years
We’re making no money. It was better when I started. We need some change. After diesel prices have gone up, it’s a terrible situation.
Copyright ©2008 by Teamsters Joint Council 7
