Warehouse Worker Resource Center
Improving working conditions in the warehouse industry in Southern California
On May 20, the WWRC celebrated courageous workers’ efforts to organize at from the Port of Los Angeles to the warehouses of Fontana. Thank you, honorees Eric Tate, Secretary Treasurer of Teamsters Local 848 and Patricia Castellanos for showing us leadership and courage, standing with workers in the supply chains of major retailers.
Extra thanks to our Co-MCs, Ericka Flores and Ernesto Rocha!
On May 1, the WWRC marched with our communities in both Fontana and Long Beach, standing up for workers and immigrants. All year, WWRC has been standing with the immigrant community to protect California’s SB 54 from attacks from anti-immigrant forces, and educating immigrant workers about their rights in the workplace and the community.
On April 25, leaders from the WWRC and Workers United-SEIU visited Sacramento to testify in support of California Assembly Bill 2853, Transparency and Good Jobs for Local Communities. We thank Assemblymember Jose Medina for introducing the bill, which would require warehouse developments that receive subsidies to disclose information about the amount and quality of jobs that would be created, and file annual status reports to local communities. With the support of the WWRC, Workers United, the California Labor Federation, California Teamsters and many other allies, AB 2853 passed the Local Government committee 6-2 and will go to the Assembly floor Thursday, May 7.
In 2016, WWRC, the California Federation of Labor, ILWU, Worksafe, and other allies supported SB 1167, mandating Cal/OSHA to establish the first indoor heat standard in the nation. After Governor Brown signed the law, Cal/OSHA has been working through a process to establish this standard.
The most recent draft of the language was released last week. WWRC is calling on all affected workers and organizations to write to Cal/OSHA to give your opinion on the language. This is likely our last opportunity for comment!
Our current concerns include:
We have until March 1 to send comments to Cal/OSHA. You can direct comment letters to ANeidhardt
If you would like more information on this issue, please contact WWRC Program Coordinator Veronica Alvarado at valvarado@warehouseworkers.org.
See the link below for the full text of the current draft.
On Thursday November 9, over 100 community and faith leaders bore witness to testimonies presented by warehouse workers and truck drivers who move goods that flow through the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Speakers will expose the abuses and injustices they face daily as they work on City property. “Over 400 people work here, and most of us work through the temp agency. Every day we go to the warehouse to find out if we have work” said D’Wayne Wilson, a warehouse worker at California Cartage/NFI on Port of Los Angeles property. “I support my entire family, rent just went up again, and once work slows down, I’ll only get two or three days of work per week,” said Wilson, who makes slightly more than minimum wage. “Some of my co-workers are homeless or live in their cars,” Wilson added.
Truck drivers like Domingo Avalos also had stories of dire conditions at the port. “Drivers work 16 to 18 hours per day with no benefits, we don’t even own our trucks. If you get injured, you are thrown away,” said Avalos, a Port Truck driver for global logistics company XPO Logistics. “While I work for only one company, they tell me I am an independent contractor. I receive no Social Security, disability, have no workers’ compensation insurance. I am told the minimum wage does not apply to me, that I have no right to organize.” These conditions apply to over 12,000 truck drivers at the Port, all of whom move goods for the largest retailers in the world.
The Southern Christian Leadership Conference of Southern California, in partnership with the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy (LAANE), Warehouse Worker Resource Center (WWRC) and Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE-LA) organized the Truth Commission to End Abuse at LA’s Port because of the need for increased awareness about the fact that jobs at the port, rather than creating good jobs that benefit communities, is creating insecure, low wage jobs. The Truth Commission to End Abuse at LA’s Portincludes community leaders from across the city, including
“Tonight, we heard stories of injustices at the Port of Los Angeles. Of dangerous conditions and racial discrimination. I am ashamed that we are seeing these conditions on Los Angeles City property,” said Truth Commissioner Jackie Goldberg, a former LA City Councilmember and author of the Los Angeles Living Wage Ordinance.“The City Council and Harbor Commission must take action to end injustice and lawbreaking at our port,” added Pastor William Monroe Campbell of Mount Gilead Missionary Baptist Church. The Commission agreed to investigate and develop a report on these conditions among warehouse workers and truck drivers at the port by early 2018, and to provide the report to Port officials.
Most importantly, warehouse workers and truck drivers continue to take action to improve their working conditions. “We know that NFI Cal Cartage tries to pit black workers against Latinos in order to keep us divided. We refuse to let that happen. We are standing together, black and Latino, warehouse workers and truck drivers, united for good jobs,” Wilson said.
Worksafe and the WWRC will host three legal clinics with legal aid partners in the Northern California Bay Area in October and November 2017.
Come and find o
ut if you are a temp worker and learn about your rights! Food and light refreshments and will be served so please register in advance as space is limited.
** If you wish to meet with an attorney about your legal issues – please call ahead of time to schedule your appointment.**
(1) SAN JOSE: October 24, 2017 at 6 p.m., Katharine & George Alexander Community Law Center
RSVP: https://twsanjose.eventbrite.com OR call: (510) 922-8719
Partner: Katharine & George Alexander Community Law Center
1030 The Alameda
San Jose, CA 95126
408-288-7030 (for directions)** LEGAL CONSULTATIONS: if you would like to meet with an attorney – please call Katharine & George Alexander Community Law Center to schedule your appointment: (408) 288-7030
(2) BERKELEY: October 31, 2017 at 5:30 p.m., Ed Roberts Center
RSVP: https://twberkeley.eventbrite.com OR call: (510) 922-8719
Partners: Legal Aid at Work
3075 Adeline St.
Berkeley, CA 94703
510.225.6300 (for directions)** LEGAL CONSULTATIONS: if you would like to meet with an attorney – please call Legal Aid at Work to schedule your appointment: 415-864-8848
(3) OAKLAND: November 1, 2017 at 5:30 p.m., Street Level Health Project
RSVP: https://twoakland.eventbrite.com OR call: (510) 922-8719
Partners: Centro Legal de la Raza and Street Level Health Project
3125 E 15th St.
Oakland, CA 94601
(510) 533-9906 (for directions)** LEGAL CONSULTATIONS: if you would like to meet with an attorney – please call Centro Legal de la Raza to schedule your appointment: 510-437-1554
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521 N. Euclid Ave.
Ontario, CA 91762
