Does the Port engage in interstate commerce? Are the goods brought through it part of the stream of interstate commerce? Are any of those truckers coming from out of state — or are their vehicles registered in other states?

If so, it strikes me that Los Angeles may be violating the Interstate Commerce Clause of the US Constitution.

I’m a UPS driver, and yes, Teamster, and have met some of these poor, sorry souls that haul port containers for a living. In my experience, they are guys, usually immigrants (legal or otherwise), who have gotten in over their heads by mortgaging their lives for a truck they can’t afford to pay for or maintain on the lousy pay these big companies offer.

With diesel costs rising it is nearly impossible for any of these drivers to make a real living or maintain a truck that will be safe to operate on our highways.

I don’t really have a problem with these guys, as long as they are here legally, being employed by trucking companies that will put safer trucks on the road, and frankly create some more decent jobs for guys with CDLs. God knows we already have a problem with attacting new blood into the trucking industry.

If we get some more jobs for professional drivers that actually pay a livable wage we wouldn’t have to put up with these foreign drivers that are brought in from India on work visas, who will work for peanuts because they know they can just take the money back to their country where it is worth more. Not to mention they are taking away American jobs.

Hell, if playing the environmental card creates more jobs, I have no issue with the way they got there, I like the result.

There is nothing in this law that says these drivers have to join the Teamsters after they are employed by a company. I’m sure the union will try to organize them, but that doesn’t mean they have to vote them in. I’m biased of course, because the Teamsters have done a great job for me and 200k+ other UPS drivers nationwide. I make a damn good wage and have benefits and a pension.

Last time I checked my stock in UPS was doing pretty well too. So Mr. Huston’s claim that this will just allow unions to destroy companies doesn’t really fly with me. UPS is the perfect example of a company that is profitable and union. Go figure.

I live in VA which is a right-to-work state, and while there are a few free riders in our barn, 98 percent of us pay our dues and appreciate the job the union does representing our interests. I think in the end this will be great for all those port drivers.

Just my opinion though…so take it or leave it.

The 9th “Circus” will uphold this one too.