There are thousands of truckers in the short-haul drayage market in the US, many of whom work for the one trucking company as independent contractors. The Teamsters has started a “national move to modernise the port trucking industry” by organising these contract drivers. In Charleston, the 52 drivers from Container Maintenance Corporation have voted to join Teamsters Local 509. “Local 509 believes this victory is a monumental win because it will pave the way for many others at the Charleston ports,” said James Todd, Local 509 president.

Fred Potter, director of the Teamsters Port Division, said: “This is a victory for all port drivers who are fighting for justice. Despite the company’s vicious anti-worker campaign, these drivers remained strong and united in their fight to win decent, living wages and fair treatment. The Port Division worked hand in hand with Local 509 on this victory, and stands ready to help negotiate a strong first contract to improve these workers’ lives.”

The Teamsters has for several years now been battling to get truckers that work for drayage companies classified as employees of those companies, and not as independent contractors, which would allow them to join a union. It has recently had some success, including winning a legal case against Bridge Transportation in New Jersey this month, when  a court ruled that the firm’s “independent contractors” must be classified as employee drivers.

The Port of Charleston drivers’ victory is the fourth recent win for workers at intermodal companies, following truckers at ITS ConGlobal in Harvey, Illinois, Parsec in Commerce, California, and Elwood, Illinois, voting to join the Teamsters.

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This complete item appeared in the December 2017 issue of WorldCargo News, on page 14. To access this issue download the PDF here.