A group of truck drivers who drive who work at port of Los Angeles and Long Beach voted unanimously to join the International Brotherhood of Teamsters late Wednesday.
The Teamsters will work to negotiate a contract for truck drivers working for “Eco Flow”, which is one of the only drayage companies in the industry that hires drivers as full-time employees instead of as independent contractors.
All 88 drivers with Eco Flow voted to unionize, raising the total number of drayage drivers at the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports to around 450. Per the agreement with the Teamsters, Eco Flow plans to raise their ranks from 88 to 500 in the first year and eventually hire 1,000 drivers.
The Teamsters appreciate the victory, but they say this is just one step toward their goal. The Teamster’s port campaign director said, “we very much want to send the message to other companies that new employee model, and working with the Teamsters, can benefit them.”
Source:
Wall Street Journal
Press Telegram