Port truck drivers from four of Los Angeles’ leading drayage firms planned to go on a 48-hour strike at marine terminals at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, beginning Monday.

Organized by the Teamsters Union backed Justice for Port Truck Drivers, the action is aimed at “years of wage theft and unfair treatment” and “demands an end to violations of workers’ rights and the pervasive and illegal misclassification as independent contractors.”

According to the group port truck drivers work long hours, hauling nearly $4 billion worth of cargo every day for companies such as Walmart, Ikea, and Home Depot, yet often receive paychecks below the minimum wage.

The strike comes as union organizers have scored recent victories against port trucking operations.

Earlier this month, seven port truck drivers employed by Pacer Cartage who were misclassified as independent contractors were awarded a total of more than $2.2 million by California officials. In March, drivers for Pacific 9 Transportation in California settled their differences against their carrier, giving them employee rights, including the right to form a union.

According to a story in the Los Angeles Times over the weekend, port drivers have filed more than 500 complaints for wage theft related to misclassification, according to the state Department of Industrial Relations, with 32 drivers have wining decisions against 13 trucking firms and securing $3.8 million in wages and penalties, 

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