Carson Shipping Company Agrees To Reclassify Drivers As Employees
SAN PEDRO (CBSLA.com) — Truckers who went on strike five times at the ports of L.A. and Long Beach have reached an agreement with a major trucking company in the fight to be reclassified as employees.
Port truck drivers have long been considered independent contractors, saying the truck companies make them pay extra charges, offering no security or benefits, KNX 1070's Ron Kilgore reports.
Carson-based Shippers Transport Express switched its policy effective Jan. 1, moving to an "employee-based business model." Drivers were notified of the change in November and invited to apply for jobs with the company.
Following Shippers Transport Express' policy change, the company's drivers voted to join the Teamsters union.
"Shippers' transition to an employee-based business model is a crucial step in the drayage industry's efforts to modernize, make the ports more efficient and reduce congestion at the ports and on our freeways," according to Kevin Baddeley, general manager of Shippers Transport Express. "On unionization, we took a neutral position because we respect our drivers' right to form a union. Finally, through our productive dialogue with the Teamsters, we anticipate we will be able to improve operational efficiencies and stabilize our driver workforce."
Union leaders say the change is a victory for drivers, who will begin negotiating a labor contract with the company through Teamsters Local 848. Barbara Maynard of the group Justice For Port Drivers says they have been negotiating with several companies and expect to reach more deals soon.
"This historic agreement represents an important step in drivers' efforts to reform the drayage industry, and demonstrates clearly that labor and management can work together constructively to find solutions to challenges facing the industry and to the injustices facing the drivers," said Fred Potter, director of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Port Division. "As Teamsters, Shippers drivers will now begin the hard work of negotiating a first contract to assure that they earn a fair day's pay for a hard day's work."
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