HUNDREDS of truckers who haul goods at Southern California ports and railyards are petitioning to unionise, reports Bloomberg.
The union efforts hope to convince federal authorities they're not contractors as their company claims.
In a filing with the National Labor Relations Board, the Teamsters union requested a unionisation election be held among 250 drivers who work for Connecticut's XPO Logistics.
'XPO has 100 per cent control over our work - XPO tells us what time we start, where we go. We have to check in with them hourly,' said driver Domingo Avalos.
'When I arrive I don't say, 'I'm here to pick up or drop off a load from Domingo's Trucking.''
The union declared it has signed up the majority of the drivers, whose work includes hauling goods at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.
The union is also accusing the company of violating labour law by wrongly telling workers that they're contractors.
Said representative Joe Checkler: 'We respect the right of every employee to choose or decline union membership,'
'Our employees have largely declined union representation, believing that we can best achieve our shared goals by maintaining collaborative relationships.'
Around 12,000 truckers are classified as employees and only a few hundred drivers are classified as contractors.
Under US law, independent contractors are excluded from unionisation rights as well as other employment protections such as those concerning discrimination and the minimum wage.
Said Teamsters vice president Ron Herrera: 'We're creating a model, a pilot for other drivers across the country to see and be inspired to unionize with the Teamsters,'
'If there's ever a time, right now is the most beneficial time to do it.'
SeaNews Turkey
The union efforts hope to convince federal authorities they're not contractors as their company claims.
In a filing with the National Labor Relations Board, the Teamsters union requested a unionisation election be held among 250 drivers who work for Connecticut's XPO Logistics.
'XPO has 100 per cent control over our work - XPO tells us what time we start, where we go. We have to check in with them hourly,' said driver Domingo Avalos.
'When I arrive I don't say, 'I'm here to pick up or drop off a load from Domingo's Trucking.''
The union declared it has signed up the majority of the drivers, whose work includes hauling goods at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.
The union is also accusing the company of violating labour law by wrongly telling workers that they're contractors.
Said representative Joe Checkler: 'We respect the right of every employee to choose or decline union membership,'
'Our employees have largely declined union representation, believing that we can best achieve our shared goals by maintaining collaborative relationships.'
Around 12,000 truckers are classified as employees and only a few hundred drivers are classified as contractors.
Under US law, independent contractors are excluded from unionisation rights as well as other employment protections such as those concerning discrimination and the minimum wage.
Said Teamsters vice president Ron Herrera: 'We're creating a model, a pilot for other drivers across the country to see and be inspired to unionize with the Teamsters,'
'If there's ever a time, right now is the most beneficial time to do it.'
SeaNews Turkey