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Indybay Feature

Independent Truckers Strike! Part 3

by Insider (off_2_dc [at] yahoo.com)
Independent truckers carry their strike into the fourth day!
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Independent truck drivers in the East Bay area have taken their strike into the fourth day.

The Oakland port is the fourth largest in the United States. Reports have terminal capacit running at 10-15% since the strike began. Railroad yards and shipping terminals continue to pile up containers that would normally be taken out by independent truck drivers.

There is little movement across the nation to join in solidarity with the strike in Oakland. There is no movement at all on the East Coast to show support: http://www.thetrucker.com/stories/05_04/0505_protest.html.
The Kansas City Star in Missouri is reporting the situation, however: http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/business/8597410.htm?1c

The strike received local television news coverage last night on the local Fox news affiliate, though notice that the coverage only occurs when many police are called into a situation (as was the situation last night).

Police presence today was sparse compared to the previous days.

One leader by the name of Delph has been explaining the new strategy being pursued by the independent truckers. At first there were calls for unionization but that option seems to have been lost. This seems to be true as there were no Teamsters spotted today (by this reporter) and their website http://www.teamster.org/04news/nr_040503_1.htm reveals no new signs of encouragement.

Instead the new strategy seems to focus on a central committee that reports on individual companies and the basic rates and fuel surcharges they award to the truckers and a subsequent boycott of companies that low-ball truckers on prices.

Striking truckers also voice concern as to whether or not a central committee (residing at the Port of Oakland) will successfully represent the concerns of all the ethnicities represented in the strike. Those ethnicites include South East Asia (particularly India), Latino, African/African-American, and Caucasian. The Port of Oakland website, http://www.portofoakland.com/, has no mention of the struggle.

Reports from Southern California conclude that L.A./Long Beach truckers are becoming increasingly interested in the situation in Oakland and are considering joining the fight.

The pay rates of independent truckers remain relatively the same even though fuel prices are soaring http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/05/04/national/main615438.shtml, http://www.fuelgaugereport.com/CAmetro.asp, and shipping rates have increased http://www.washtimes.com/upi-breaking/20040308-035213-3623r.htm.
§Strike for a raise!
by Insider (off_2_dc [at] yahoo.com)
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§An indefinite strike?
by Insider (off_2_dc [at] yahoo.com)
truck_strike_33.jpgiy5qvl.jpg
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