Excerpts from the Journal of Commerce:
Drivers working for Green Fleet Systems agreed to a “cooling-off” period after Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti reached a deal with their Teamster backers and their employer, ending their striking at six marine terminals. But Teamster backer and Total Transportation Services haven’t yet reached a similar deal that would prevent the employers’ drivers from picketing [today].
Drivers from those drayage companies are protesting working conditions and alleged misclassification of drivers as independent contractors. The ports reported that members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union did not honor the pickets and cargo-handling was not affected.
Nevertheless, the mayor and port executives are concerned that trucker demonstrations in the harbor could add to the already severe congestion problems in the busiest U.S. port complex. Furthermore, the ILWU has been working without a contract since July 1, so any move by the dockworkers to honor the pickets, if it should occur, would add even further to the congestion problems.