Strike Escalates at Major West Coast Port, Could Last for Months! Key Terminal Operations Halted, Port Disruptions Loom…
The truckers’ strike at the Port of Oakland, originally scheduled to end on July 20, may continue for weeks or even months as protesters step up their calls for action.
According to local media reports on July 21, some terminals at the Port of Oakland have closed due to truck drivers’ protests against AB5, severely disrupting port operations and even threatening to bring them to a halt. This is adding to the strain on an already stretched U.S. supply chain.
The strike at the Port of Oakland began on July 18 and was originally scheduled to end on July 20, but protesters appear ready to extend it. One protest organizer said the strike could last for weeks or even months.
The signs held by protesters read, “Cargo won’t ‘flow’ until AB5 is repealed.”
Reports said that before the strike on July 21, three of the Port of Oakland’s main terminals had already closed their truck gates, meaning most terminal operations had been suspended.
The Port of Oakland said in a recent statement that the terminal closures would further worsen port congestion. Port officials are urging truck drivers to end their strike and resume terminal operations as soon as possible.
So far, there has been no word on when the strike will end. As the U.S. port supply chain continues to deteriorate, the strike is undoubtedly adding to port congestion and cargo backlogs.
“The U.S. supply chain is already in crisis,” said Peter Friedmann, executive director of the Agriculture Transportation Coalition, following the strike at the Port of Oakland.
Port of Oakland Executive Director Danny Wan said, “We understand the protesters’ frustration, but a prolonged shutdown of port operations, for any reason, will harm the interests of all businesses operating at the port.”
In addition to the Port of Oakland, truck drivers at the two other major West Coast ports—the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach—also went on strike on July 13. Around 100 truck drivers stopped working to protest the controversial AB5 law.
The AB5 law at the center of the truckers’ protest reclassifies truck drivers who were previously treated as independent contractors as employees. This means truck drivers will lose the freedom to operate independently, making it harder for them to earn a living. Conservative estimates suggest that around 70,000 truck drivers will be affected by the law.
Matt Schrap, CEO of the Harbor Trucking Association, said in a statement: “AB5 will have far-reaching consequences and upend the industry as we know it. Tens of thousands of truck drivers will be ‘pushed out’ of the established business model within a week. There is no doubt this will put even more pressure on the supply chain.”
Bill Aboudi, president of trucking company AB Trucking, said that with U.S. inflation currently high, truck operating costs would soar unless AB5 is repealed.
Notably, the port strike comes during the peak import season, as U.S. retailers stock up on goods for the fall holidays and the back-to-school season.
As a major import gateway on the U.S. West Coast and an agricultural export hub, the Port of Oakland handles more than 2,100 trucks each day. Imports include furniture, clothing and electronics from China, Japan and South Korea.
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Edited by: Effy Reviewed and published by: Wang Yu
Original source: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/5RoRkb-vK1EFv1ukAS8O-Q
