Port Truckers Rally Across California for Clean Air& Demand End to “Sweatshops on Wheels”

In Oakland, pay is so low some drivers are forced to live in their trucks; Diesel pollution is so severe, 1 in 5 kids in nearby West Oakland has asthma

For Wednesday, June 27, 2007

CONTACT:
Beth Trimarco: 510-760-4202 (cell)
Sarah Massey: 202-445-1169 (cell)

Port of Oakland - Unrest at California ports is growing as hundreds of truckers and community members will rally across the State, urging the Ports of Oakland, Los Angeles, and Long Beach to set standards for trucking companies that operate on port property. They will urge the Ports to clean up severe diesel pollution, end what many call, "Sweatshops on Wheels," and allow truckers' families to move out of poverty.

In Oakland, there are roughly 2,500 "independent contractor" truckers who must purchase and maintain their own trucks.  After expenses, take home pay is approximately $10 an hour, and the overwhelming majority of drivers do not receive health insurance. Truckers are barely able to provide for their families, live in poverty, and cannot afford to buy newer, clean emission trucks.

Drivers are routinely forced to wait in lines at the port for an average of 2.5 hours to pick up a single port container.  With engines idling on long lines, older trucks spew pollution. Drivers report asthma, dizziness, and vomiting from the fumes, and the American Lung Association estimates that 1 in 5 children have asthma in the surrounding West Oakland area where diesel fumes are 5x higher than other parts of Alameda County.

"I share an old truck with a friend. Each day we breathe the diesel fumes, and each night, one of us sleeps in the truck, and the other sleeps on a piece of cardboard on the side of the road.  It's like living in a 3rd world country."

- Ali Riasat, Trucker at the Port of Oakland

By subcontracting and misclassifying truckers as "independent contractors," port trucking companies not only skirt taxes and avoid taking responsibility for diesel pollution, but they also make it illegal for truckers to collectively negotiate for higher pay, health benefits, and better working conditions. The Port of Oakland currently has no direct relationship with these companies and does not hold them accountable.

Rally participants will call on the Ports to treat the trucking industry as it does other industries like steamship operations, airlines, and concessions where businesses must meet a set of standards if they wish to operate on Port property. Participants will urge the Port of Oakland to require trucking companies to maintain cleaner trucks and hire drivers as employees. This would create cleaner air for the West Oakland community and allow truckers to provide a better quality of life for their families.

  • WHAT: Port truckers rally
  • WHO: 150 port truckers & West Oakland community members
  • WHEN: 12:15pm, Wednesday, June 27th, 2007
  • WHERE: Middle Harbor Park, Port of Oakland (corner of 7th Street & Middle Harbor Road)
  • PHOTO: Dozens of semi-trucks with rally participants waving green signs

Coalition for Clean & Safe Ports * 1714 Franklin St., Suite 325, Oakland, CA 94607

The Coalition for Clean & Safe Ports is committed to working with Port stakeholders to develop a lasting solution to the crisis in port trucking. The Coalition includes environmental, labor, faith, public health and community organizations that are promoting sustainable economic development at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

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Clean Air, Good Jobs

Drivers are Taking Action - You Can Help

Clean air and good jobs could be a reality at our ports, but Wal-Mart, Target and the trucking companies are standing in the way. Harbor commissioners will cast their vote soon, so let them know underpaid drivers cannot shoulder the cost of green trucks. The only way to halt deadly pollution is to make environmental accountability the cost of doing business in our communities.

Take Action