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Teamster militants break into TPM Long Beach session to blast XPO
TEAMSTER union militants burst into a morning session of the Journal of Commerce's annual TPM Conference in Long Beach to protest what they consider the illegal misclassification of drivers on the part of XPO Logistics and other third-party providers.
Tensions came to a head when demonstrators attempted to disrupt the conference shortly before XPO chief executive Brad Jacobs was to give his keynote address, reported American Shipper.
Said Mr Jacobs: "The Teamsters are out of control. I believe in some unions; I don't believe in the Teamsters. In Europe, we have cordial, respectful, courteous [labour relations], it works well, it's very functional."
Said Teamster Ryan Janota: "When we raised concerns with management we were ignored, so we decided to organise. Instead of respecting our rights, XPO spent a fortune on high-priced union-busting consultants to try and silence us. It didn't work and we elected to join the Teamsters so Bradley Jacobs will have to listen!"
According to the Teamsters, XPO's classification of port and rail drivers as independent contractors instead of employees amounts to wage theft, and has led to numerous protests and lawsuits.
The independent contractor model has always been the norm in both drayage and short- and long-haul trucking operations, but has come under attack in recent years as drivers seek to be treated as employees.
Courts have mostly sided with the drivers, who say employers deprive them of wages, benefits and legal protections given to employees.
Tensions came to a head when demonstrators attempted to disrupt the conference shortly before XPO chief executive Brad Jacobs was to give his keynote address, reported American Shipper.
Said Mr Jacobs: "The Teamsters are out of control. I believe in some unions; I don't believe in the Teamsters. In Europe, we have cordial, respectful, courteous [labour relations], it works well, it's very functional."
Said Teamster Ryan Janota: "When we raised concerns with management we were ignored, so we decided to organise. Instead of respecting our rights, XPO spent a fortune on high-priced union-busting consultants to try and silence us. It didn't work and we elected to join the Teamsters so Bradley Jacobs will have to listen!"
According to the Teamsters, XPO's classification of port and rail drivers as independent contractors instead of employees amounts to wage theft, and has led to numerous protests and lawsuits.
The independent contractor model has always been the norm in both drayage and short- and long-haul trucking operations, but has come under attack in recent years as drivers seek to be treated as employees.
Courts have mostly sided with the drivers, who say employers deprive them of wages, benefits and legal protections given to employees.
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