Truckers Unite! iu530 Members of the IWW Call Out for a North American Shutdown May 1st, 2008
Submitted on Thu, 05/01/2008 - 4:57am
iu530
Members of the IWW call on North American
truckers to unite together and shutdown on May 1, 2008.
Drivers in North America move the goods that make the economy work. They are treated like nothing by those who depend on them, the companies and the government. They have been used and abused. They have sucked dry by the economic powers in order to create profit that they never see. For many the rates have not increased in years, except after the 2004 Intermodal strikes, and now increasing fuel prices are taking money
North American OTR drivers are exploited by the brokers. The brokers are clearly running a racket that claims their drivers are independent businesses with their own decision-making powers. But it is obvious that they are deferring the risks of their own enterprise onto unsuspecting drivers, who cannot pay the minimum of expenses to operate.
LTL truckers fare no better. They are often forced to work unpaid overtime and worked 14 or more hours with no breaks. They are forced to take dangerously overweight loads, to make illegal residential deliveries, and to lie on their logs. They constantly suffer under the mismanagement of supervisors and dispatchers.
Intermodal port and rail drivers are left the crumbs in a system. They create incredible wealth for businessmen; they are a priceless link in the global supply chain; and yet they are treated as subhuman. Declared independent contractors, forced to endure unpaid wait times, they are also expected to afford fuel on wages that do not properly feed their families.
The drivers in North America have had enough and will strike for workplace improvements.
Our demands are:
- 1. 100% fuel reimbursement
- 2. Congressional investigation into the profits of oil companies
- 3. Respect from our companies
- 4. Increased rates
- 5. Paid wait times
- 6. Paid overtime
- 7. Sensible scheduling
The IWW calls on all truckers to join in helping make the trucking industry a better place to work and our planet a better place to live.