Teamsters please join our General President James P. Hoffa, the incomparable Brother Chuck Mack Western Region Vice President/ Teamster Port Division Director, Brother Rome Aloise, and many other Teamster Leaders, and rank and file Mermbers from Local Unions all throughout California on July 22, 2008. Teamsters and the Coalition For Clean And Safe Ports will demonsrate our support for middle class jobs and clean air at the Port Of Oakland,

• Port Drivers work 11-14 hour days
• Port Drivers do not receive health or pension benefits.
• While waitng in line, engines idle and drivers and residents breathe toxic fumes.

Teamsters and the Coalition For Clean And Safe Ports will demonsrate our support for middle class jobs and clean air at the Port Of Oakland,
??? Don't really know what our goal/plan is here, short term or long term. I know, or perhaps I only think that I know, that we are not opposed to the use of diesel trucks. Real Team, do you know the status of Local 70's and the IBT's organizing (?) effort at the Bay Area port facilities?

Join us Brother. Find out.

 PORT_OaklandFlier_Eng.pdf ( 103.47K ) Number of downloads: 25

Joining it to find out is good, but knowing what it is about before joining in is far better. The reason for my concern is because there is an effort going on right now to curb the use of diesel vehicles, including the diesel boats of the commercial fishermen in the SF Bay Area which could result in shutting down or forcing the repower of many of those boats and placing an inordinate hardship on many of those already impoverished workers who have owned their fishing boats for decades and eke out a living on them. Hopefully we are not shooting from the hip on this.

As a follow up to that statement, I should pratice what I preach and so I am digging in and looking around on this a little more. Sounds like the 'Coalition' that is participating are good well intentioned folks. Greenies are wonderful folks, but I've learned a long time ago that when we represent workers, our goals can clash even when we are both well intentioned. Most of the Port diesel studies point to the problems but and goals that may be laudable, but as yet they have not identified solutions that are anywhere near adoptable let alone acceptable. We've known that diesel fumes can be carcigenous and as such there are workplace concerns, but its still all around us and especially so where Teamsters work. There is not enough done to deal with the associated health risks. My concerns are that where there are separate interests at play, we must be wary that our member's interests don't get lost in the shuffle.

This is a link to a recent study conducted by a part of the 'Coalition', it is labeled DRIVING ON FUMES. Truck Drivers Face Elevated Risks From Diesel Pollution. (but then, we already knew that 40 ++ years ago.).................
http://www.nrdc.org/health/effects/driving/driving.pdf

Alex,

At the risk of posting something off-topic I just wanted to sort of expand on your green v. labor thought a bit (I know you didn't postulate or mean it that way; just putting it that way for brevity). I've always wished labor and environmental groups could find more common ground or at least work together in a more concerted way. We're groups which share many common interests, although you're 100% right that at times our interests clash. But it seems to me that where our interests clash is swallowed whole by those areas in which we share goals - most notably in Dem Party politics. ANWR is a big issue for us and them, but it occurs to me that in almost every conflict there's almost always an equitable solution to be found if the two parties honestly seek an accord.

I don't have any novel insights into how a better partnership could be formed, but I guess I'm just hoping out loud that we can find a way (or ways) to work together. There are just too many issues on which we both agree to write a partnership off.

Yeah, having been at the LAST "port Rally"@ Los Angeles and Long Beach ports: it kinda of really sucks that you'll never get all those illegal aliens and Pakistani drivers to join anything, much less a "union"...They'll take your free bumper stickers, plaster them on the front of that 1975 International cab-over and then leave the "rally" and go haul that container for $75.00 or LESS..Their all "viva la Raza" until they actually have to DO SOMETHING and then it's goodbye IBT....Makes for a good photo op for Hoffa though....

Let me tell you, it's not only in california, and it's not only illegals and pakis, that's just the M.O. of the owner-operator. They seem to share certain other "attributes" too, such as a low IQ and the rejection of sound economic business practices. Add to that their constant violations of safety, hours of service, and speed laws, to name just a few. How can ANY legitimate trucker compete with these assholes? I think most of them buy a truck because they are not qualified for a job that requires screening, experience, clean MV record etc. There was a time (30 years ago) when an independant could make a decent living, but these idiots ruined their own program. Some here ignorantly think these clowns are worth pursuing, but those of us who have been around know it's a colossal waste of time, energy and money.

We need the greens a lot more than they need us. They are the ones with the real power and money. The reality is that it doesn't matter who drives the truck (owner-operator, teamster, non-union employee driver) as long as its a green truck. Let's hope they include us in their plans, and that the politicians we have supported don't forget us. Another reason to never vote for an anti-environmentalist anti-labor republican.