What About This Truckers Strike?

Since the industrial revolution, strikes and boycotts have been two of the most visible ways through which United States workers expressed their discontent with labor and social issues. In the 19^th century, American workers waged strikes to protest such important social issues as child labor, dangerous working conditions, low pay, and the inability to form unions. Because of the revolts that took place both in the United States and in England, important labor reforms were instituted, like laws making child labor illegal. Similarly important were boycotts, like the bus boycott started by Rosa Parks during the civil rights movement, which succeeded in expediting the process of integration.

But a rich history of strikes, shut downs, and boycotts couldn’t fix labor problems forever. As industries grew and technology changed, problems in the labor industry could not be stopped. Currently, the trucking industry is dealing with many of the same problems that the strikers of the 19^th century dealt with—dangerous working conditions, low pay, and unfair practices like high diesel prices. In order to deal with these problems, truckers have chosen one of the most tried and true methods of voicing their opinions—the strike or the shutdown.

According to the Industrial Workers of the World, truckers are shutting down primarily because of high fuel prices, which primarily effect owner-operators and small trucking businesses. Because they cannot afford to charge the fuel surcharges that large companies do, and because owner-operators must bear the brunt of the fuel costs, independent truckers and owner-operators have been behind the strikes with employee drivers from large companies stopping their rigs or driving slowly to support them, according to message boards.

According to Clark Richards’ article on the Associated Content web site, the goal of the shut down is to encourage the government to offer subsidies for the soaring price of oil for these small companies that are barely making due.

According to TruckertoTrucker.com, truckers are also striking because of unsafe and undesirable labor conditions such as spending long hours away from family members and the rising cost of maintaining minimum safety levels. Although some of these concerns come with the territory of choosing to drive for a living, most truckers believe things shouldn’t be so hard. Because almost everything is tied to the rising cost of fuel, what might have been acceptable for enough income to support a family in the past is not acceptable when a profit is not being made.

From the strikers of the industrial revolution to the boycotters of the civil rights movement to the autoworkers’ strike of last summer, truck drivers are in good company. By slowing down on the road and parking their vehicles, truckers are communicating visibly that they’re tired of unfair working conditions and too little pay.