Posted on 04/29/2006 4:25:18 PM PDT by seastay
Thousands of truck drivers vital to the transit of goods from the neighboring ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles -- the busiest combined U.S. seaport -- are expected to take part in a May 1 work boycott and rallies for immigrant rights, organizers said on Thursday.
A large walkout would be disruptive to the combined ports which together are the primary U.S. trading gateway with Asia. But port officials said it was difficult to determine how many drivers would take part, and for how long.
Local organizers involved in the nationwide call to stay away from work on May 1 -- international labor day -- have called on the upward of 12,000 drivers at the two ports to stop work or attend rallies.
Some 24,000 containers filled with clothing, supplies and other goods are taken out of the ports by truck each day and unloaded at warehouses for further distribution throughout the country.
Although undocumented labor at the ports is minimal, the vast majority of truck drivers serving the complex is Latino.
"There's been a call by the community for a general strike. That means we're shutting down," Ernesto Nevarez, one of the organizers, told Reuters. "Everyone has a relative (who is Latino)," he said. "It's out of solidarity with our people."
Organizers are using Citizens' Band (CB) radios and handing out fliers at the ports and their rail complexes to spread the word among the drivers, who are not members of the Teamsters union.
The International Longshore and Warehouse Union representing longshore workers at the ports is not taking a position, said spokesman Steve Stallone. "I'm looking forward to seeing what will happen," Stallone said. "(The boycott) could be a flop or it could be total chaos at the ports."
Art Wong, spokesman for the Port of Long Beach, said it was still unclear how big the work stoppage could be, but if it continued for a week, it could have "longer, dramatic economic impacts, not just here but across the country."
But, he said, "Because they're all barely getting by -- and that's one of the issues -- it's hard for them to all walk off the job for a day or a few days."
Organizer Nevarez said truck drivers will decide during their rally May 1 whether to extend the sit-out to five days to press demands for for collective bargaining rights and a 25 percent pay increase
"There's a strong push to shut down five days. It's turning into a catalyst for further action," he said.
The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach last faced a serious congestion problem in the summer of 2004, when a shortage of labor held up the movement of goods. Two years previously, a lockout of longshoremen resulted in losses of billions of dollars and a massive backlog of pre-holiday cargo.
Stephanie Williams of the California Trucking Association, said she doubted that independent truckers would stay away from work on a large scale, attributing the boycott calls to the work of "troublemakers". But she said she had heard that warehouse employees might walk out.
"That's just as devastating," she said.
Whether it be the truckers or the warehouse workers, who load and unload interstate trailers, a walkout could result in a backlog of trucks that would "take forever" to right, she said.
"This could have a big economic impact on not just California but on other states, because 40 percent of freight out of the ports is headed for places other than California," Williams said.
it will surely be the fault of any counter protesters present.
I have said before they will fire tear gas at American citizens before they will blame the illegals. For some reason, the politicians look at them as noble.
Of course they can. The smaller trucking companies would rather hire illegal aliens to drive because it's cheaper that way, and they can pay some of them in cash. (I live in the port area, and believe me, many of them drive dangerously).
Just like in every other industry, the illegals are taking American jobs and bringing wages down for everyone.
California politicians are strangely silent about this "protest". Cowards!
Looks like the illegal alien problem is turning into a 'mexican' problem...
I can understand staying at home if you are only a half mile away from the port.
It won't surprise me to see violence break out.I don't know much about most of the supporters of this walkout but I do know that the "Latin Kings and Queens" is nothing but a street gang. It is too bad that Bush has let this country go so low that Latin street gangs are supporting this openly.
Just because you can't get paid what you think you're worth doesn't means all blue collars workers should have to work for poverty wages so you can feel superior...
Seastay, I went to the website where this list is posted. Thanks for putting it out.
I googled "Almighty Latin Kings and Queen Nation". This is nothing but a latino street gang. Bad News!!!!!!!! We need to get this info out to the MSM and Lou Dobbs.
Ironically, illegal aliens have probably had a huge impact on that specific industry -- by depressing drayage rates for all drivers in the industry.
If I get a reply, I'll post it.
They passed that with flying colors. I believe there are ten hispanics in the CA senate. All but one of the hispanic senators voted YES on the boycott. They showed where their loyalties lie.
Diesel smoke billowed from a Mexico-registered truck at an emissions inspection station in Otay Mesa yesterday. A San Diego County program is installing pollution-control devices on Mexican trucks.
Since July, local air officials have worked with Mexican trucking companies to replace their big rigs' mufflers with pollution-scrubbing devices called diesel oxidation catalysts. Each catalyst takes a few hours to install and costs roughly $3,500. It is virtually maintenance-free.
Illegal alien = mexicans
They are defiant militants who are threatening the U.S. with this May 1 march. They are terroists who said they will shut down America, starting with our ports. Not one politician denounced them or are stopping the May 1 takeover by these radicals.
http://www.mayorno.com/WhoIsMecha.html
http://www.immigrantsolidarity.org/
These are the people demanding amnesty or they will shut us down.
Fire them all. Seriously.
Are the Mexican trucking companies paying for the diesel oxidation catalyst or is this another freebie from the American taxpayer?
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This is how they behave when they're illegal. Imagine what they'll be like when they get their guest worker cards.
And let our truckers try to go into Mexico. You have to change drivers at the border. Basically, have to hire a Mexican national to drive the rig.
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