Port truckers hold protests around U.S.
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BY DAN FEIN
AND FLOYD FOWLER
GARDEN CITY, Georgia--Owner-operator truck drivers who haul containers staged work stoppages and rallies October 4 at 16 ports in the United States and Canada to protest high fuel prices, low wages, and lengthy unpaid waiting periods. The actions, coordinated by the Teamsters Port Division, were held as part of international protests organized by the International Transport Workers' Federation.
About 30 drivers rallied here, just west of Savannah, at Gate 4 of the Georgia Port to call attention to their deteriorating take-home pay and working conditions. Over the past several years, drivers at this major southeastern port have made several attempts to organize a union. Around 1,000 drivers work out of the port.
Robert Morgan told the Militant, "The trucking companies are skimming off the top. We never get paid what we should. We never see the bill of lading." He was referring to the 8 percent to 10 percent fuel surcharge the shipping carriers pay to the trucking companies to offset the increase in diesel prices. This is supposed to be passed on to the drivers, who are the ones who pay for the fuel.
Herbert Sanders, who has logged 2 million miles as a port driver, said, "When Wal-Mart opened a warehouse in Statesboro about three years ago, drivers got $200 a box for that run. Now it's only $115-$120. After paying for fuel, it's not worth the trip. For an in-town run, the trucking company gets $50. The driver gets only $20 of that."
Independent operators have to pay for their own health insurance, repairs to their cabs, truck insurance, and fuel costs.
Sanders said, "Companies used to pay $600 to drivers hauling from here to Atlanta. Now they pay about $350 and it costs $140 just for the fuel."
A common practice of the trucking firms is to deduct from drivers' wages the cost of any damage to trailers or containers. Larry Lee said, "I worked for one company that held $1,500 of mine in escrow. When I left it took 90 days to get it back. They're always looking for an excuse to keep it. My tags cost $800 last year and I pay $350 per month for health insurance for me and my family. The companies operate on money they steal from us drivers--and I mean literally steal!"
Keith, a driver who joined what several drivers referred to as the 33-day "Christmas strike" three years ago and asked that his last name not be used, said, "For in-town hauling we used to get $18-$20 per load and maybe 10-15 trips a day. Now you are lucky to get five or six trips a day. We waste hours at the port waiting to get loaded and unloaded, all unpaid. The contracts you sign [with the trucking companies] are all for them. They won't negotiate anything. It's to be sure their ass is covered. I was out here for the Labor Day rally, and I'll be out here again. We've got to stand up."
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