Congressional Progressive Caucus Stands with Port Truck Drivers on Strike for Fair Wages & Workplace Protections
June 23, 2017
WASHINGTON, D.C.– Congressional Progressive Caucus Co-Chairs Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) and Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI) made the following statement in support of the Los Angeles Port Truck Drivers striking against wage theft and mistreatment. Last week, USA Today published an investigation on the abuses of port truck drivers, who have been overworked with little pay and forced into debt by major corporations. These drivers say that they have been misclassified as ‘independent contractors,' allowing companies to avoid paying minimum wage, overtime, or complying with key workplace protections. Additionally, truck drivers are forced to lease their trucks and pay for business expenses like insurance and fuel out of their own pockets. This leaves workers with barely any pay to show for their hours of work.