Dateline: Los Angeles/Long Beach

PORT DRIVERS DISPENSE A CURE FOR TOLL GROUP’S BAD CASE OF AMNESIA…

January 16, 2012

When the global logistics giant Toll Group abruptly told 26 of its truck drivers “hit the road jack, and don’t you come back no more,” they didn’t take it standing around— they mobilized. Over half have gotten their jobs back in the ongoing saga of American workers standing up to their unjust $8.6 billon Australian employer. Now, a delegation from the Port Truck Driver Committee for Respect and Dignity delivered a letter to Toll’s management here and abroad demanding they abandon an arbitrary deadline that could put the remaining 11 pink-slipped drivers out of work for good if they are not recalled in the next week and a half.

The downsizing and accompanying new recall eligibility policy, suspiciously implemented after drivers began their union organizing efforts, turns on its head Toll’s most recent track record on legitimate seasonal layoffs by instituting an absolute 90-day eligibility window for rehire.

The trucking carrier for popular fashion labels Ralph Lauren Polo and Guess? claims this is how they have always conducted business, but their memory seems to be clouded to the facts: As recently as last March, drivers were temporarily furloughed and brought back to work without a running clock—some exceeding three, even four months. The limited eligibility policy is now the subject of another round of anti-union retaliation charges filed with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The drivers produced evidence for their latest case on the heels of a recent NLRB ruling finding the Australian Toll Group responsible for committing a range of illegal acts to suppress the rights of its pro-union U.S. employees.

“They wanted us to keep our heads down, but instead we took action together and now the tables are turned,” said Luis Alay, a father of two who slept in his car upon finishing the grave shift so he could deliver his co-workers’ letter early in the morning when management arrives. “We won’t stop speaking out until all of my brothers and sisters are rehired, our company withdraws its spiteful 90 day eligibility policy, and they stop treating us like they don’t know us.”

The Southern California drivers have been subjected to intimidation, harassment, and surveillance ever since they petitioned for the freedom to collectively bargain to end the deplorable Third World- like working conditions. The retaliation came to a climax in late October when one-third of the workforce, the “Toll 26,” were suspiciously sacked 2 days after they joined hundreds of community supporters to protest outside the company for its inhumane working conditions.

Due to the Toll drivers’ unwavering resilience, growing public pressure, multiple black eyes in both local and Australian media, and a thundering protest outside of the Australian consulate’s L.A. offices, Toll has schizophrenically began rehiring more than half of the dismissed workers. The first round of reinstatements (9) began a month after the phony seasonal slow down (during the busy holiday shopping frenzy). With the indication of the NLRB siding with Toll drivers and at the risk of facing a federal trial for not remedying the situation, Toll recalled another 6 workers during the first week of January.

In the face of the growing strength and bonafide unity of America’s port truck drivers and their string of recent victories, will Toll Group cure their amnesia by taking what has been prescribed, or continue down this course that has been so ill-advised?