BY ANTHONY DUTROW
HOUSTON—Some 100 independent truckers who work for Bridge Terminal Services and Transport (BTT) here walked out October 24 to demand higher rates for their runs and compensation for rising fuel costs.
“The company called the cops and tried to move us from here, saying we weren’t a real strike as we didn’t have picket signs,” one of the drivers, David Santos (kneeling third from left), told the Militant. “So we made these signs. We submitted our proposal to raise the rate to $1.20 a mile today. The boss came out and offered us an insulting 10-cent increase.” Santos said that last year, on a dedicated run from Freeport, Texas, to Clinton, Tennessee, a $4,000 run, the company took $1,200, leaving the drivers $2,800. “This year they are only leaving us $1,900 for the run—and it costs us $1,000 for the fuel,” said Santos, who is from Puerto Rico. He has been a driver for six years and has worked for BTT for the last year.
“The company terminated three drivers to try to intimidate us,” he added, as picketers arrived with lunch for all. “But we are still here. We are organizing our breakfasts and lunches here.”
Anthony Dutrow is the Socialist Workers Party candidate for mayor of Houston.
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