Pressure builds for wider ports' authority
(NITL) The National Industrial Transportation League -- Logistics Management, 11/3/2009
Proponents of federal legislation that would authorize local governmental authorities such as ports to regulate truck drayage, security and related activities are actively lobbying members of California's Congressional delegation to build support for an amendment to the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act of 1994 (FAAAA).
Pressure on the Congressional delegation is coming from selected port authorities such as the Ports of Los Angeles and Oakland as well as environmental groups and the Teamsters. These groups are actively pressuring the California members to sign on to a "Dear Colleague" letter asking the leadership and other congressional members to support inclusion of an amendment to the FAAAA as part of other legislation that is currently making its way through the Congress.
While the stated purpose for this amendment is to include the introduction of new and cleaner trucks at the ports, it would also ban use of independent owner-operators from operating these vehicles and require drivers to be employees of trucking companies, thus opening up an exclusive opportunity to the Teamsters to organize these drivers.
The League is actively participating in an industry coalition opposed to the proposed amendment to the FAAAA as it would only create a "patch work" of local rules and operating conditions. This opposition does not affect the authority of ports to put into place stricter emissions requirements resulting in a cleaner and safer environment. These are goals the League and related groups strongly support.
Meanwhile the industry coalition including the League is preparing a comprehensive response to New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Newark, New Jersey Mayor Cory Booker who are also calling on Congress to amend the FAAAA (Notice, October 23).
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This would allow unions to take more control of the ports future while putting independent contractors out of work. The unions are way too entitled and have little incentive to engage in improving the conditions at the ports, improving productivity or being held accountable for their performance.
D Lynch - 2009-6-11 09:50:32 EST
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