PORTS OF LOS ANGELES & LONG BEACH, CA –  The California State Legislature approved Senate Bill 1402 (Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens)), the bill is aimed at restoring dignity to the hard-working men and women who haul our nation's cargo by cleaning up our port trucking industry. The bill now proceeds to the desk of Governor Jerry Brown for signature.

The following is a statement from Fred Potter, Vice President, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, and Director of the Teamsters Port Division:

“California’s ports are a powerhouse driving our economy and connecting us to the world. The 25,000 men and women who haul cargo containers on and off the docks have some of the hardest and most dangerous jobs in America. More than a decade of court rulings, media stories, and independent reports have revealed rampant labor violations in the port trucking industry, and the State Labor Commissioner has awarded tens of millions of dollars to hundreds of drivers for wage theft due to misclassification as independent contractors. Nevertheless, drivers are still suffering and it is past time for justice.

“We are grateful for the leadership of Senator Lara for introducing this landmark legislation, and for Senator Bradford and Assembly Members Gonzalez Fletcher and Thurmond for co-authoring SB 1402. We urge Governor Brown to sign SB 1402 to restore dignity to the hard-working men and women in the driver’s seats by cleaning up our port trucking industry.”

Source: Justice for Port Truck Drivers