Drivers began following Pacer Cartage and Harbor Rail Transport trucks to rail yards and other customer locations Nov. 18. The day before, some truckers for QTS Inc., LACA Express and WinWin Logistics went on strike against what they describe is misclassification as independent contractors.
On Nov. 13, some Green Fleet Systems, Total Transportation Services Inc. and Pacific 9 Transportation truckers resumed their fourth strike this year. That evening, GF drivers agreed to extend the cooling off period negotiated by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti last July.
The next day, Teamsters union, Pac9 and TTSI announced the drivers had agreed to continue talks with the two companies. “TTSI and Pac9 have made clear that they respect drivers’ right to choice with regard to unionization,” the trio’s joint statement read.
The Pacific Maritime Association said West Coast port congestion had been compounded by what it says are union slowdowns and work actions. The organization of terminal operators and shipping companies has been negotiating a new contract with International Longshore and Warehouse Union since May. The union’s contract expired July 1 and affects 13,000 dock, clerical and foreman workers at 29 Pacific Coast ports.
The association says ILWU workers slowed pace this month at Tacoma and Seattle ports while withholding qualified yard crane operators at LA and LB ports.
Several steamship lines imposed significant port congestion surcharges Nov. 17, citing labor problems and a major upswing in port congestion.
