HomeMy Public PortalAbout96-017 (02-06-96)RESOLUTION NO. 96 -17
A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF COMMUNICATIONS WORKERS OF AMERICA (CWA)
REPRESENTING CONTAINER HAULERS
WHEREAS, thousands of truckers earn their livelihood by means of hauling containers
delivered on ships arriving into the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, which jointly are one
of the world's busiest two harbors, to railways and consumers throughout the Greater Los
Angeles area, and
WHEREAS, the work conducted by these truck drivers is extremely critical to the tremendous
amount of trade that comes in by means of the Port of Long Beach and Los Angeles that
amounts to 145.9 billion dollars in 1994; and
WHEREAS, the container haulers are a vital part of an industry that produces millions of
dollars each year for the City of Los Angeles and the surrounding region, while simultaneously
leaving these container haulers without any means of providing a sufficient livelihood for
themselves or their families; and
WHEREAS, these drivers employ themselves and their equipment, such as tractors, to the
benefit of those in the trucking companies, which handle the distribution of cargo, and
WHEREAS, the working conditions of working which drivers must face as they prepare,
deliver and unload containers are considered miserable, deplorable, and insulting by these
drivers; and
WHEREAS, the trucking companies stand firmly upon the belief that drivers are "Independent
Contractors" and not employees; and
WHEREAS, this independent status means therefore, that drivers are made exempt from
' minimum wage laws, worker's compensation, Social Security Retirement, paid vacations, paid
holidays and are not covered under employment discrimination statutes; and
WHEREAS, the inefficiencies of the dispatch system utilized by companies for drivers to pick
up loads frequently results in the drivers having to wait for an unknown amount of time,
without pay; and
WHEREAS, their pay based on load and distance is meager, and rarely enough to meet
expenses, and often earning the drivers a salary close to minimum wage levels; and
WHEREAS, after waiting for a load, the drivers are often coerced into accepting illegal,
overweight or unsafe loads, which if they decline to take on, force them to forfeit compensation
for that load.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Lynwood does hereby find, proclaim, order
and resolve as follows:
SECTION 1. The City Council hereby supports the CWA Local 9400 in an effort to
alleviate stressful and overly burdensome conditions often associated with the tasks
performed by container haulers by calling upon the Commissions of the Ports of Los
Angeles and Long Beach to acknowledge and enforce the following changes:
1. Establishment of a centralized dispatch system in an effort to reduce lost time
for drivers who must wait for an unpredictable amount of time in order to pick
' up containers; and
2. Provide increased safety inspections, so as to reduce the risks associated with
illegal, overweight or unsafe loads; and
3. Require that companies dispatching drivers shall pay the drivers for the amount
of time that they must wait, so as to discourage the current wasteful practice.
SECTION 2. The City Clerk is directed to certify to the adoption of this resolution and
to make copies available to those affected by the contents herein.
SECTION 3. This resolution shall go into effect immediately upon adoption.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED THIS 6th day of Februar yl996.
PAUL H. RICHARDS, MAYOR
ATTEST:
ANDREA L. HOOPER, CITY CLERK
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
NdAt.:.. g jZJaq.
CITY ATTORNEY
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
) ss.
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES )
I, the undersigned, City Clerk of the City of Lynwood,
do hereby certify that the above and foregoing resolution was
duly adopted by the City Council of said City at a regular
meeting thereof held in the City Hall of the City on the 6th day
of February , 1996, and passed by the following vote:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS BYRD, HEINE, HENNING, REA, RICHARDS
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
City Clerk, City of Lynwood
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
) ss.
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES )
I, the undersigned, City Clerk of the City of Lynwood,
and Clerk of the City Council of said City, do hereby certify
that the above and foregoing is a full, true and correct copy of
Resolution No
96 -17 on file in my office and that
said resolution was adopted on the date and by the vote therein
stated.
Dated this 6th day of February , 1996.
Ad
City Clerk, City of L nwood
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