The protest entered its third day on Wednesday after escalating to a near complete shutdown of port activity the day before.
A group of truckers continued to halt cargo traffic at the Port of Oakland on Wednesday deepening concerns over major supply chain disruptions at one of the country’s largest ports and a key hub for global commerce.of port activity the day before. A growing chorus of protesters say they plan to continue halting cargo movement throughout the week although the loose coalition of truckers has yet to reach a final decision.
At the heart of the protest is the 2019 California law AB 5, which will require about 70,000 currently independent owner-operators to register as employees of trucking and other companies. Many small business owners and independent truckers say the law could force them to shut down their operations. However, worker’s rights groups say the trucking industry is in desperate need of employee protections.
The 2019 AB 5 law was heavily backed by labor groups who say many gig workers and truckers are often classified as independent contractors even though their work should qualify them for full-time employee benefits. The law has been held up since 2020 amid legal wrangling. In June the Supreme Court declined to review a case opposing AB 5, paving the way for the state to enforce the new system of employee classifications.
Many truck drivers say the independent contractors’ model gives them flexibility and the ability to grow small trucking businesses in an industry that has become an economic engine for Sikh immigrants and their children. The protests come as the Port of Oakland is already struggling to free up container space at the sprawling facility. Marilyn Sandifur, a port spokesperson, said the blockade is “worsening the already existing backlog of containers on the marine terminals.”