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Post by docker2 on Mar 16, 2012 14:31:24 GMT -5
i'm hearing some mid atlantic longshoremen talk of a possible strike taking place this year if their contract doesnt go well this time around. that hasn't happened in 35 years. some of the big box shippers are already calling for backup plans to use the west coast docks if that situation were to materialize in the east. i'll let the ones who know better on this subject comment but i find it interesting that the lower rank-n-file are even talking about this kind of action as most have become relaxed or complacent with not having had to do anything drastic for those good paying jobs their ancestors had to fight tooth and nail for. that was the glory days of the waterfront wars. if the long shore were smart they would be teaming up with a few of the radical east coast truckers who over the years have caused a lot of grief for the big liner bosses. peak season in the east could become interesting after all?
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Post by tailgunner on Mar 16, 2012 21:13:36 GMT -5
hey, it's best thing could happen for truckers if the ila walks during contract negotiations. rates would soar through the roof in transportation. now if that were to happen followed by more port disruptions in the west there will be total chaos at the docks. truckers should join in with the ila in solidarity no matter what bad blood exist between union and drivers before. bury the past. d**n-it-man, seize the opportunity if it presents itself. i will park my truck and walk with them on picket line. can you imagine thousands of trucks sitting idle while port management tries to load the few trucks remaining along with the rail? what a f#ck*ng disaster it will be for companies like wal-mart but they'd be willing to pay the big bucks when it's over to be the first to get their boxes back on schedule. it would take weeks to get trucking back on track especially if this happens during the peak season. do you think anyone will shed a tear for these corporate fat cats who cut our trucking rates every chance they get? wise up!
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Post by jessie on Mar 17, 2012 6:55:46 GMT -5
i guess i better start thinking of saving up a few bucks in case they do. this might start a wild fire under a few drivers at the port.
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Post by largecar on Mar 17, 2012 13:34:37 GMT -5
This new ILA president they have in New York doesn't sound like he's on board the steamship lines payroll as their past leadership. I would love to be a fly on the wall of the flagship carriers association. We may live to see a great upheaval of wall street funds if this happens along the Atlantic. I will gladly park my truck and participate in the longshoremen picket lines.
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Post by frenchfry on Mar 17, 2012 19:46:24 GMT -5
i would park my truck in a minute. think about it. what do you really have to lose? i look at this as an opportunity to make a statement. when it comes to having a voice. we have none as one but as a large group, well, we'll see if this happens. i know if something doesnt turn this port work around i wont be in it next year.
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Post by gatekeeper on Mar 18, 2012 11:41:15 GMT -5
heres' my take on this. whats' amazing to me is longshoremen make $30plus per hour or more,add benefits like their retirement,pension,health insurance,etc. thats' well over $60.00 per hour in wages -- now the port trucking companies or port shipping customers expect us to work for less then $10 per hour after all our expenses are paid out. we own a business so that means the work doesnt' stop when the load gets dropped. we have to do maintanance, repairs,collections,book wk,which all goes on 24/7. who is getting f#ck&d here? yeah i will join supporting the longshoremen but i want something out of it. if this goes down as a nationwide shutdown i think we deserve a piece of that pie too. i dont' know how that may wk out but their union buddies better not forget who helped them get what they want in their new contract.
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Post by company man on Mar 19, 2012 18:24:36 GMT -5
I haven't said anything in awhile, but try to keep you posted on things I hear that might help. Some of you as usual won't believe me, but here is what I know from news we were given from the Mgmnt at the port and one of the local Union Reps. The news of the strike was leaked by the Union thier hopes are just what is happening that the O/O at the Port will join in and start talking about supporting the Union strike, in hopes that it will give them some leverage in negotiations. The Port Union could care less what happens to you and said that very thing to us in a meeting. THe Union Rep even said if all goes their way CO. will be able to find other drivers that most of you only complain and don't have any respect for anyone except yourselves. Guys just remember do what is best for you and if you choose to support guys that are already making a fortune and largely due to their pay it is hard to get more for you or us. Make sure their is something in it for you, what do they do everyday that justifies them making more when you are working for change. You have to partner within yourselves in order to get what you rightfully have coming. Even if you shut down the entire country you will most likely only line the Longshoremens pocket. For once I will ask you again to come together and think of yourselves. You might come out ahead not supporting them and proving that if they cut their pay you are the ones that make this Port Run. All they do is slow you down when it rains because they don't want to get wet, not inspect the crappy containers and let them out of the Port, but bust you when you pull it in the same way you brought it out and expect you or us to pay for the repair. Make you wait in line because it is time for them to go to lunch and they can't go 15 minutes late. We aren't perfect far from it. But what do they do for you really to justify supporting their strike. Just a question.
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Post by oboy@ivorva on Mar 19, 2012 19:52:34 GMT -5
i understand what your saying cm. your right most dock workers treat us like dog s#@t. every time i think about telling them all to bite my a$$ one helps me out when i find myself in a bind. at this moment i would make a deal with satin himself ;D. if we could achieve something in their strike for us i may stand up with them. i want to see a sign from the dock workers. i remember a time a few years back here in virginia when dock workers at pmt/nit stood up for us. since then i have lost the respect i once had but i still have an open mind. let's see what turns up in the next few months. i can't see drivers doing anything on their own so maybe there is something good to come of this. what do we have to lose?
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Post by canhauler on Mar 20, 2012 16:13:30 GMT -5
Seeing is 75% of believing. I will be ready to observe or to join depending on what I see or hear. Let's see what they offer drivers to help them win a better contract.
I bet truckers would be more willing if longshoremen were to demonstrate a better attitude toward us over the next few months. Their leadership could put a spin on this angle when they hold monthly meetings. I'm guessing they do that in their local union halls?
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Post by ilovdieselsmoke on Mar 20, 2012 21:52:10 GMT -5
Most truckers moving containers work for poverty wages. That's because the big shippers would have you believe they're all going broke with NO $$$$ to be made in the ocean shipping business. To hear port management talk you'd think they're only doing their share as a public service to provide you with those wonderful paying truck driving jobs the companies all rave about. Does the ILA work for peanuts to help these poor fat cats survive? Read a memorandum below from their old contract about to expire. If these ports along with their shipping customers were one step away from bankruptcy would they be able to pay out wages like this!
Now c'mon driver, who is really getting screwed over here in water world?lwcjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/memorandumofsettlement-2009-contract.pdf
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Post by wildman on Mar 22, 2012 21:42:47 GMT -5
Got doubts about supporting ILA--as U remember Diesel they get what they want asking for our support and then poop on us like the teamsters.
We are considered trash in the industry--think a bit.
Not know why we are not now short of knowledgable operators--coming shortly and hope I not on short list. Excuse me, we are already short of knowledgable operators. Story in paychecks & agents backpocket.
Agent pays tk co for right to be agent, broker gets cut, operator squirreled down to where he is way better off to get slap out, particularly if his knowledge of the container business is slim thinking I am self employed--geez, forgot there is a truck & family to support.
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Post by doublenickle on Mar 23, 2012 15:18:12 GMT -5
i was moving containers out of this port back in 1999. i remember well. we had monthly driver meetings going on in savannah. the group of truckers called the ucma voted to drop the ila for the teamsters union. i always thought that was a dumb mistake. the teamsters sold us out not the ila. we should have stuck with the ila. we might have had a contract now if we had left the teamsters alone. seems all the teamsters are interested in is the mexican truckers in california. we should try asking the ila for help again. does anyone have any contacts with them? how about that guy who used to hold meeting? i dont have but a couple years left before i quit but this would be good for the younger guys if they want to ever have anything in at this port.
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Post by guest on Mar 23, 2012 18:18:32 GMT -5
We better hope and prey they DO NOT strike , because if the long shore men strike and the cans get left sitting on the docks what do you think will happen when they decide to come back to work. The truckers will have to move those cans and their will be so many of us converging on the ports at one time that the lines and waiting times will triple , we will be burning up fuel getting no where. It will be one round a day for days and days . Please I am an O/O just like you guys and I understand the concept of a strike , but when we all come back to work it will be a disaster .
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Post by legaltrac on Mar 23, 2012 20:57:21 GMT -5
yeah your right, the lines will be long. there also will be customers who will pay top dollar to move their cargo as fast as can be handled. they know many of the truckers will refuse to work in this bottleneck unless the pot is sweetened. it's happened before and if truckers play their cards right there could be a gain from this in more ways then one.
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Post by longload on Mar 23, 2012 21:46:05 GMT -5
i was moving containers out of this port back in 1999. i remember well. we had monthly driver meetings going on in savannah. the group of truckers called the ucma voted to drop the ila for the teamsters union. i always thought that was a dumb mistake. the teamsters sold us out not the ila. we should have stuck with the ila. we might have had a contract now if we had left the teamsters alone. seems all the teamsters are interested in is the mexican truckers in california. we should try asking the ila for help again. does anyone have any contacts with them? how about that guy who used to hold meeting? i dont have but a couple years left before i quit but this would be good for the younger guys if they want to ever have anything in at this port. i don't haul containers anymore but i did at that time.i was there outside the port gates in 1997.gate #4 was where most drivers took a stand. people were dropping off food,gifts for kids because it was christmas. tv news reporters was there. a lot of drivers lost their butt over that strike. there was several wannabe leaders fighting over what to ask for so everything was confused until the end. there was a meeting everyday with port people. i don't know who. one thing for sure. the port was completely stopped for weeks.drivers met at the teamsters hall right at the start of strike. i don't remember how it all started but it ended badly for everyone. i think the strike started over two drivers who had sued mco trucking company. i know the teamsters were there at first but after the first few days of strike the teamsters union left us high and dry. i had not thought about this in years. it seems strange now. i agree about teamsters being a bad move. i wish you guys luck if it happens again but this time the union may do it for you. if they do strike take advantage if you can but this time be smarter about who you chose to be your leaders. |
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Post by milkman on Apr 6, 2012 7:10:19 GMT -5
Don't be fooled again..... the ILA wants the OO's to support them, but as soon as the ILA gets their new raise in pay they will kick the OO's to the curb. NOBODY cares about us. Don't be their pawn. We Can't be part of their union.
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Post by sanddollar on Apr 6, 2012 8:32:35 GMT -5
yes driver there is a way for us as a owner operator to partner with ila. the ila has a few o,o truckers in their union under a trucker contract in fl. look at some older post on this forum about forming a hiring hall. you will see what i am talking about. i have been to several driver meetings when this was a hot topic. the real problem is drivers. no one wants to stand up,most drivers want something for nothing or without effort. your right about local ila throwing us to curb. i was told this has to be discussed at a higher level in their union. we did have someone in savannah that spent a lot of time doing that. i think he finally got discouraged with lack of driver response so not much chance this will be happening unless drivers decide they really want change. lol
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Post by companyman on Apr 6, 2012 11:23:15 GMT -5
I have heard straight from a Union Stewards mouth, that they want your support if they go on strike. So I asked him why any O/O or driver should support them when all I hear is how the ILA treats our drivers most of the time. Then if the stories are true what happened the last time when they got what they wanted and walked away from the drivers that supported their cause. His answer was very simple, he can't control what happens to the trucks, but they should support the Union if you ever want their support inside the Port. I hear and see the treatment you get from many CO., but I really don't think the ILA has any intention of helping you. You have to come together some how and help yourselves. The ILA guys are not starving or going broke, why miss work for a group that honestly could care less about what happens to any of you except to use you to move there agenda forward. JUST A THOUGHT.
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Post by pkd5757 on Apr 6, 2012 19:26:24 GMT -5
They try this in Boston all the time. The clerks slow things down to a crawl to piss us off. Then they want us to call our dispatchers. When that doesn't work they want us to shut down the port like we did 7-8 years ago. I wouldn't even talk about it to them. The Longshoreman in the yard are stand up guys, but the clerks suck when it comes to our cause.
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Post by red on Apr 7, 2012 7:43:21 GMT -5
i donno man. we sure are stuck in gear. if drivers would take a stand? but i guess we'll stick together when pigs fly!
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Post by robert on Apr 7, 2012 7:51:57 GMT -5
I have heard straight from a Union Stewards mouth, that they want your support if they go on strike. So I asked him why any O/O or driver should support them when all I hear is how the ILA treats our drivers most of the time. Then if the stories are true what happened the last time when they got what they wanted and walked away from the drivers that supported their cause. His answer was very simple, he can't control what happens to the trucks, but they should support the Union if you ever want their support inside the Port. I hear and see the treatment you get from many CO., but I really don't think the ILA has any intention of helping you. You have to come together some how and help yourselves. The ILA guys are not starving or going broke, why miss work for a group that honestly could care less about what happens to any of you except to use you to move there agenda forward. JUST A THOUGHT. some of the ila don't care what happens to each other either. we have to start somewhere don't we? what we're doing now isn't working out so well is it? no body has all the answers but we should at least try getting the driver meetings going in savannah once again. talk is cheap but educational on here. not to bash anyone but i have heard this all before without any action. i would seriously attend every meeting if someone would hit restart. i'm no leader so i will not assume any position on my own to start this but i know a few who would given they had the support. truckers need to at least take the time to do that or this is a lost cause from go. |
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