MARXICAN ILLEGALS
PINKO DE MAYO
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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.
I share that thought too. The trucks on the harbor runs are maybe a half step from the wrecking yard.
Last week, the shop by mine axed me to come over and translate for a little Mexican driver who had just dropped a load for their shop.
The guy didn't need directions, just wanted to use the bathroom.
Hmm Red dawn?
http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0087985/
It doesn't say in the article but I get the impression that California is paying for it.
I have googled a few other articles regarding the catalysts. It seems at present this is an EPA pilot project. In other words American fools are paying for the conversion of Mexican trucks to take our jobs. Ain't NAFTA and CAFTA just grand?
Carolyn
>>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".<<
This could be a 'hotspot'. Having known more than a few ower/operator truckers myself, they don't appreciate anyone getting in between them and a paying load.
other than the fact I have FRiends there, losing L A would be no big lose in my book
However, I hope that cool heads prevail.
Lord help them if they Reginald Denning...
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Good.
You are right... and the big rigs are polluting too, and the US tax payers are paying I believe up to 3 grand to have them retrofitted to eliminate the pollution...what a great deal....
Yes, I think a lot of truckers wouldn't appreciate that much.
You guys stay safe.
But back to the initial point: How exactly do truckers going on strike relate to illegals wanting to void our borders - unless you recognize that they are all being backed by the same communist groups?
Like me. I have a CDL and need a job and would love to work there.
I’m an American, reliable and in need of a job. Although it is a fast paced, dirty and dangerous job,the money is good. I did it years ago. Being the only woman driver was weird.
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