The Miami Herald reported that scores of visiting Teamsters -- in town for a national meeting -- showed up cheering and waving banners Thursday morning
in support of embattled truck drivers at the Port of Miami-Dade.
Truck drivers at ports across the nation walked off their jobs at the end of last June to protest rising fuel costs, delays and low pay. In Miami, the work stoppage dragged on for two weeks, driving up losses for importers, shippers and carriers -- many of whom had never realized the truckers were paid by the load. After two weeks, the county and terminal operators filed an injunction against the drivers, charging that as independent contractors they were violating anti-trust laws that prohibit businesses from colluding to push up prices or costs.
The truckers were ordered back to work by the federal court and the case is in mediation.
Teamsters are trying to unionize the truckers by obtaining an exception to anti-trust rules, arguing that although the truckers own their rigs, they don't really run businesses but rather operate as employees of trucking companies that haul containers for shippers.
The Teamster claim was echoed in recent recommendations from a blue ribbon panel appointed to look into the reasons for the work stoppage.