Port drivers go on strike in L.A./Long Beach

Drivers are striking four companies doing business in and around the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, claiming they are being misclassified as independent contractors instead of employees.    The Teamster-affiliated group, Justice for Port Drivers, said Wednesday that drivers are striking four companies doing business in and around the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, claiming they are being misclassified as independent contractors instead of employees.
   Drivers from XPO Cartage, XPO Port Services and K&R Transportation (owned by California Cartage) went on strike Wednesday, joining drivers at Intermodal Bridge Transport who went on strike Tuesday afternoon. In addition, warehouse workers at K&R’s sister company, California Cartage Warehouse, are also on strike.
   Barb Maynard, a spokeswoman for Justice for Port Drivers, could not say how many drivers are involved in the strike, but Weston LeBar, a spokesman for the Harbor Trucking Company, said the drayage companies he has spoken to say less than 1 percent of their workers are involved in the action.
   Picketing is occurring at the companies’ yards, warehouses and distribution centers, and the group and ambulatory picketing will occur at marine terminals and other locations throughout the day and into the night, the group said.
   Some container terminals at the ports have said the targeted companies will not be allowed to have trucks move in and out of marine terminals during the demonstrations, LeBar said.
   Phillip Sanfield, a spokesman for the Port of Los Angeles, said as of 9:00 a.m., the pickets were having minimal impact on port operations.