U.S. Supreme Court rules against forced arbitration

(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, January 15, 2019)

PORT OF LOS ANGELES/LONG BEACH, Calif. — Today, the United States Supreme Court in the case New Prime Inc. v. Oliveira ruled that workers in the transportation industry cannot be forced to waive their rights through private arbitration agreements. Click the link above to read the ruling.

“This is a great victory for all workers in the transportation industry, including employees, legitimate independent contractors, and drivers misclassified as independent contractors who are suffering egregious wage theft,” said Fred Potter, Teamsters International Vice President At Large and Director of the Teamsters Port Division. “Although we have consistently challenged employers’ attempts to compel private arbitration to avoid a public legal battle, the U.S. Supreme Court ruling makes it clear that employers cannot and should not require drivers to waive their right to their day in court through binding arbitration agreements.”

Click the link above for background on port truck drivers’ fight for justice at America’s largest seaport.

Justice for Port Drivers: With the dedicated support from the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, plus many other labor, community, and faith allies, we are fighting to change the port trucking industry so we can win justice for ourselves and our families. More than 75,000 strong, we haul our country’s imports and exports for retail companies, for manufacturers, and for the U.S. Military. We are proud to be professional truck drivers and proud of the service we provide. Without us, America would stop.

Thursday, January 17, 2019