For those of you members of thetruckersreport.com you can find this one posted in the Truckers Strike Forum titled "Peeing in the Ocean to Raise the Tide"
See yall in the funny papers!
This proposed strike will be like pissing in the ocean to raise the tide. Mainly do to the lack of braodcasting and organization.
I am a third generation truck driver, and lived through the union strikes and independent strikes of the 70's & 80's, deregulation, HOS changes, border openings and everything else this industry has endured.
This "strike" talk is driven by fuel prices, mainly from owner operators. Outside of us drivers, who is backing us up? The general public doesn't have a clue to a proposed strike. Has it occured to anyone that it will only hurt the industry and possibly the American economy. You're protesting the greed of mostly foriegn based companies that this strike will have no effect on their economies. You have to get the American People involved, not just a small percentage of the trucking industry. In order to get the People involved is broadcasting. Billboard signs, banners on trucks, public announcement, or even TV commercials letting the people know that this will effect their cost of living tremendously, now and in the future if something is not done.
These days everyone watches CNN, Fox News, & CNNBC. This "strike" isn't even a blip on their radar. What good is it without the American People having knowledge of whats going on. The People knew more about the UPS strike for pay and benifits than they do about an economy impacting situation.
Draw attention to the cause, not the reaction. And we have to do it in a way that won't hurt the People of this country.
I keep hearing, "It's time for a strike..." or "Wake up drivers! Grow a backbone and stop taking it in the rear..." "With us or against us?" This sounds more like civil unrest inside the industry. From the drivers I've talked to, and say they are participating say they are going to "park their truck and go fishing..." or hunting or whatever. Thats not participating. Thats hiding from a problem. So don't call me a coward because I wont support something that I've been getting vague information about through the cb grapevine, from drivers who have no solid knowledge of the issue at hand.
For over 10 consecutive years, the oil companies have had record profit years. They have used up every excuse in the book for reasons of price gouging, unseasonably cold winters, hurricanes, global warming (you can thank Al Gore for that one), El Nino, stricter emissions laws, problems in the Middle East, you name it. If it has a major impact on regions or societies, they have used it as an excuse for raising the cost of fuel.
I got rid of my truck in 2000 when fuel went up over $2 a gallon. (Clinton administraion so stop blaming the President) . I went back to being a company driver and going to school at night. Eventually landed an office position for 11 months before getting back in the truck. I learned the hard way that I wouldnt have it any other way. You think the independants are effected, you oughta see the effect it has had on the revenue of the bigger companies. But before any "truckers strike" has an effect, the trucking companies have to unite and start making some noise. Thats when OOIDA, ATA, Teamsters, and others will get involved. As it stands they can't support this strike due to anti-trust laws.
I know the government has helped every transportation industry except for trucking. That's because we have been able to police our stuff "in house" all these years. But for the airlines, rails, and steamship industries to get help, it took unity of the companies, not the employees or independents. If you want to win your war, not your battles, you have to recruit the guys with the big guns. Outside of that, it just looks like a revolt on the border of desperation.
Tags: Truckers Strike
