The logistics industry is divided over President-elect Donald Trump’s nomination of Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer as the next U.S. Secretary of Labor. While unions like the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the Teamsters applaud her pro-worker stance, trucking groups express concern over her opposition to the widely used owner-operator driver model.
The ILA praised Chavez-DeRemer for her strong record on labor rights. In a statement, ILA President Harold Daggett said, “Rep. Chavez-DeRemer built a strong pro-worker record protecting their rights to organize. We look forward to working with her and the [Trump] administration on legislation and policies that protect workers’ rights and safety while building a strong economy.”
Daggett also highlighted the ILA’s need for federal support as the union prepares for potential contract negotiations. The ILA’s current agreement with maritime employers, which averted October’s three-day strike on the U.S. East and Gulf coasts, is set to expire on Jan. 15.
While the ILA refrained from endorsing a presidential candidate in 2024, Daggett expressed optimism about the Trump administration’s willingness to address union concerns. The union also acknowledged the Biden administration’s role in resolving wage disputes in October.
The Teamsters echoed this sentiment, with President Sean O’Brien stating that Trump’s labor policies signal a commitment to protecting workers’ rights. O’Brien congratulated Chavez-DeRemer and commended Trump for his pledge to “find common ground to protect and respect labor in America.”
Chavez-DeRemer, currently serving her first term in Congress, has co-sponsored several labor-focused bills. These include proposals to safeguard the collective bargaining rights of state public employees and public safety workers, as well as the widely debated Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act.
The PRO Act expands federal protections for unions by restricting employer practices that dissuade union organizing, protecting employees from retaliation, and enabling union members to engage in secondary strikes.
However, the act has drawn criticism from employers and trucking groups for its provisions limiting the classification of independent contractors. The legislation uses criteria similar to California’s ABC test, which requires workers to be classified as employees if they perform tasks central to the employer’s business. Critics argue this undermines the owner-operator model, a cornerstone of the trucking industry.
The American Trucking Associations (ATA) strongly opposed Chavez-DeRemer’s nomination, citing concerns over her support for policies like the PRO Act. In a statement, the ATA said, “Her anti-trucking policies undermine our essential workforce, threaten the right of independent truckers to choose their own career path, and impede the efficiency of the supply chain.”
The PRO Act’s redefinition of independent contractors and its introduction of “joint employer” rules, which could hold marine terminals accountable for port truckers’ working conditions, are particularly contentious. Trucking industry leaders warn these measures could disrupt logistics operations and increase costs.
Chavez-DeRemer’s nomination highlights the tension between labor rights advocates and industry stakeholders. As the incoming administration prepares to take office, the debate underscores the challenges of balancing pro-worker policies with the operational needs of key logistics sectors.
Source: www.joc.com