A trucker strike at the Port of Oakland has continued for the third day since Monday, with about 450 protesters protesting AB5 blocking all terminals and shutting down operations at the port.
Truckers protesting in Oakland reportedly said, Goods will not move until AB5 disappears.
So far, the protesting truckers have forced TraPac terminals and the largest terminal operator, Auckland International Container Terminal (also known as SSA), to shut down operations on Wednesday.
"Auckland International Container Terminal (OICT) management has decided to close operations today due to protests by independent truckers," Port of Auckland communications Director Roberto Bernardo told FreightWaves in an email on Wednesday.
"The port's other three Marine terminals are virtually closed to trucks," he said. "Only some ship laborers are still working."
The TraPac terminal sent a message to freight truck drivers saying the terminal was unable to work on its first shift on Wednesday "due to ongoing protests that disrupted access."
"There will be no movement of goods until AB5 is gone," was the protesters' message to California Governor Gavin Newsom on Wednesday.
"Governor Newsom continues to ignore the independent truckers who are the backbone of America," said Kimberly Sulsar-Campos, vice president of Iraheta Bros. Trucking in Oakland.
Newsom signed Assembly Bill 5, a controversial state law AB5, nearly three years ago that aimed to limit the work of independent contractors and largely classify them as employee drivers.
Now, truckers say Newsom and the California legislature can exempt trucking from AB5 as they have done for other industries, including lawyers, real estate brokers and accountants.
For example, Proposition 22, passed in November 2020, excluded app-based ride-sharing companies Uber and Lyft from AB5.
Port truck drivers held signs saying, "We are asking for exemptions now. We should respect the world economy and the functioning of the United States."
Sulsar-campos said Iraheta Bros. was started by a group of owner-operators who wanted to start their own trucking business. The towing company now has 20 owner-operators who oppose AB5.
It's very frustrating that other professions are exempt from this law, but not small business truck drivers, who deliver vital cargo that feeds the world, "she said.
On Tuesday, nearly 100 members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union refused to cross the protest line after Oakland owner-operators blocked the SSA terminal gate early.
"We are now working without a contract, so we support the owner-operators and understand what they are trying to do," said George, a member of ILWU for nine years who declined to give his last name.
Originally, Auckland's port drivers had planned a one-day protest on Monday, however, they decided to extend it into Wednesday and possibly into the weekend.
They claim port of Oakland officials downplayed the protest, saying there was "some traffic congestion" at TraPac and SSA terminals, when in fact truckers shut down traffic at three of them.
An independent contractor serving the port of Oakland says he would have to sell his house and move his family out of California if he were forced to become an employee and paid by the hour.
"Have you looked at real estate prices for homes or rents in the state?" "The 20-year port driver, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisals, told FreightWaves. "On a good day, I can make $1,200, but if I go to work for a company that only pays me $25 an hour and controls the hours I can work, I can't afford to feed my family."
Aboudi is a protester who owns six truck drivers who deliver containers at the port of Oakland.
"Many drivers who work in ports migrate to this country so they can choose and freely decide how and when they want to work," Aboudi told FreightWaves. "This (AB5) is a bad law because it takes away their option to become owner-operators and forces them to become employee drivers."
Post time: Jul-22-2022