Labor coalition plans big-rig traffic jam as protest

Labor coalition plans big-rig traffic jam as protest Proponents of a drayage overhaul plan by Southern California's ports will step up their offensive against transportation industry officials opposed to the plan Wednesday by staging a rush-hour convoy of big rigs.
   The Coalition for Clean and Safe Ports said Monday it would marshal more than 100 trucks for a 25-mile morning rally from near downtown Los Angeles to the Port of Long Beach headquarters. In a release, the group said it 'will jam the 110-Harbor freeway with over 100 dirty, diesel-spewing trucks during the morning rush hour.'
   At the port, the group plans to demonstrate outside during a port-called closed-session task force meeting discussing the truck plan.
   The plan, being developed jointly by the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, seeks to cut emissions from drayage trucks operating in the two ports by 80 percent over the next five years. Proposed to begin Jan. 1, the plan would offer licenses to truck companies that meet strict port-defined environmental, labor, financial and security criteria. Under the plan, truck companies without the license, and non-truck company affiliated drivers would not be permitted to access the ports.
   The ports are expected to vote on approval of the plan in late July or early August.
   Transportation groups, while agreeing with the emissions reduction portions of the plan, have expressed opposition to the labor components that will force all drivers to become employees of port-licensed trucking companies.
   The coalition, comprised of various organized labor and environmental groups, also plans a simultaneous rally at the Port of Oakland.