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| Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti (center) met with Teamsters during picnic. |
About 250 Southern California Teamsters joined more than 2,000 of their union brothers and sisters Monday in Los Angeles to march for workers’ rights. The Labor Day parade and rally took place near the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, where port truck drivers have been fighting for fair treatment and the right to organize.
Led by three 18-wheelers in front and about 100 motorcycles
and classic cars in back, Teamsters from several different locals across the
region chanted, cheered and revved their engines while traversing the mile-long
parade route. They also delighted the hundreds of spectators taking in the
event with their call-and-response cheers:
Rolling, rolling, rolling with the Teamsters! Who are we? Teamsters!Anthony Balbastro, a Teamsters Local 63 member and a shop steward at United Stationers, said the Labor Day event filled him with pride:
Only in America can you stand next to other brothers and sisters and march.
It is an example of collective direct action where we can show the community who we are. It is important to reaffirm solidarity among working people.
And a group of retired Teamsters said they are concerned
about the next generation of workers.
Dan Salazar, a retired member of Teamsters Local 63, said:
We are here out of respect for the lifestyle we enjoy for our families. We want other people to enjoy what we had. The laws have changed, peoples’ culture has changed. They are starting to get left behind.
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| Teamsters marched for a better life for the middle class. |
Salazar said he was encouraged by recent
actions by low-wage workers. Last week, L.A.
port truck drivers returned to work after a historic 24-hour strike ended
against trucking company Green Fleet Systems. The drivers struck to protest
unfair labor practices by Green Fleet’s management, including unlawful
anti-union retaliation, harassment and intimidation.
The short, sudden port truck driver strike was followed by
more job actions by low-wage workers around the country. Fast-food workers in
more than 50 U.S. cities walked off the job on Thursday. Walmart workers are planning to strike in 15 cities tomorrow, their largest mobilization since Black Friday.
After the parade, people thronged a local park for a barbecue and entertainment. Joining
them were federal, state and local elected officials who pledged to
work on behalf of workers for fairer wages.
Newly elected Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said now is
the time to stand up for workers:We will fight for a living wage. And better schools. And a greater Los Angeles.
