A unique union drive is underway at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. The organizing effort involves about 250 short-haul truck drivers who move goods from the ports to nearby rail yards and warehouses. The drivers, who work for XPO Logistics, argue the company has long misclassified them as self-employed contractors to deny them better pay and benefits, which they say would come with employee status. Under federal law, only employees can unionize, not independent contractors. The drivers are hoping a union election will force a resolution on the question of employment classification. Officials with the Teamsters Union filed paperwork asking the federal National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to hold an election for the drivers on forming a union.
