From the article . .Originally Posted by jonp
On Sept. 14, Swift dropped the $18-an-hour wage in favor of a pay-by-the-load system, similar to that used by most other port trucking companies. Drivers are now paid $21 to $70 per load.
Given the heavy congestion at the port, drivers are often able to complete only one load per day. In some cases, Swift has had to add to drivers' paychecks to ensure they are paid at least $7.25 an hour, the federal minimum wage, according to Ricardo Hidalgo, a Teamsters organizer.
In NLRB testimony, Swift officials have said that traffic at the port has been much lower than expected, due to the recession. In its first four months of operations under the Clean Trucks Program, Swift lost $4 million.
Never mind Saturn. Do you think the union did any good here? Can you imagine you're the guy who picked up the $21 load and had to sit on it for 8 or 9 hours? Do you think these guys are being told this is what they can expect when they hired on? Do you think Swift would make up the federal minimum if they didn't have the union breathing down it's neck? Personally, I don't give a rats rear end if Swift lost $40 million. That is a risk they fully understood and willfully undertook. The guys driving these trucks have committed there time and skills to do a job and they deserve equitable compensation. It is up to Swift to manage their business, provide the loads and get the wheels rolling, not the drivers.
I am not pro union by any stretch. I say put everyone on the clock at $18 an hour and pay them time and a half after 40. I don't see that happening any time soon. If the Teamsters are the only organization in a position to address the realities of port business and balance that with the law and the needs of working people, I say give them a shot. You would propose that some independent with an antique truck who will pick off a turd load for crack money is the answer?
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. Some interesting reading, and the comments pretending to know the law more than the Supreme Court gave me a good chuckle. Thanks for the response cdswans as I always wondered what happened with that case.
