Port Truck Drivers Who Haul Boron From Rio Tinto Mines to Port of Los Angeles Continue Strike

September 12: Port truck drivers employed by NFI Industries’ California Cartage Express (CCX) subsidiary, who claim the company illegally classifies them as “independent contractors,” walked off the job early Monday morning to protest unfair and illegal discrimination for aspiring to form a union at their employer. Picket lines are extended from the CCX port-adjacent yard in Wilmington, CA, and along the routes of CCX trucks, including at the Port of Los Angeles and the Rio Tinto Mine in Boron, CA, where port traffic is slowing down to a trickle.

On Tuesday, misclassified port truck drivers at the ports – specifically those employed by XPO Port Services – had a victory in the California courts, where a judge affirmed the decision by the California Labor Commission to reimburse four misclassified drivers for roughly $800,000 for wages stolen due to their illegal classifications as “independent contractors.”

Also on Tuesday, the California Senate passed Assembly Bill 5, which – if signed by Governor Newsom – will crack down on the illegal use of “independent contractors” in California.

Picketing workers, accompanied by community and religious leaders from the Los Angeles and Salt Lake City areas, along with members from Teamsters Local 222, traveled and led a delegation to Rio Tinto’s U.S. headquarters in Salt Lake City. On Wednesday, Teamster leaders and Gustavo Villa, a striking NFI/Cal Cartage driver, were in London, England, to meet with Rio Tinto executives at their headquarters to highlight the actions taking place in California and Utah, reiterating the message to drop their contract with NFI/Cal Cartage Express.  “

Source: PR Newswire