It was a sunny afternoon in downtown Los Angeles. I was on my way to get some lunch when I encountered heavy traffic I usually don't have to deal with until I am leaving work for the day.
As I was approaching the corner of Alameda and 6th I could hear horns honking and spied a three block long line of semi-trucks, oh what a joyous sight, it was clearly a roughty demonstration of some sort! When I reached my destination I ran out to the street to talk with a trucker who was part of the demo, he said that they were all container haulers from the port of Long Beach. They were in L.A. to pay Mayor Villaraigosa a visit in opposition to the cities demands that these container haulers buy new more energy efficient trucks. I asked him if he was in a union and he responded, "no, I wish!" This man seemed very pleased with the action they had taken. It looked like there was about 100 trucks in one long row coming up Alameda heading to city haul.
Alameda Blvd runs through the warehouse district of Los Angeles so these workers not only refused to haul any freight in Long Beach that day but also seriously disturbed the flow of business in Los Angeles as well. I could see truckers pulled over everywhere not being able to access the loading docks scattered in this part of downtown L.A. From what I have heard there are big companies who hire these trucker s as independents so that they do not have to pay them benefits, and by the time they have paid for gas, insurance and various other fees they end up making $10 an hour.
This was an inspirational moment. Just another small sign that the working class in this country is begining to see no other alternative to the current crisses than to unit with their woking class brothers and sister and fight for their bread and butter.
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