As Pac 9 port truck drivers continue their indefinite strike & have their wage theft cases heard by the CA State Labor Commissioner Long Beach, CA – On Tuesday, July 28, starting at 5:00 PM PST, port stakeholders – including misclassified and striking port truck drivers and their supporters; Rebecca Smith of the National Employment Law Project (NELP), co-author of the seminal report Big Rig Overhaul: Restoring Middle-Class Jobs at America’s Ports Through Labor Law Enforcement; and Teamster officials – will testify about the impact of misclassification and exploitative working conditions at America’s largest port complex, which includes the Port of Long Beach, a department of the City of Long Beach. The historic hearing will take place in the midst of the seventh port driver strike in two years. “I’m sick and tired of being misclassified as an independent contractor by my company and I can’t afford to put up with the wage theft for another day. That’s why I’m on strike, and will stay on strike, until they recognize my rights as an employee. With this hearing, I’m hopeful that the City Council and Mayor Garcia will hear our truth and ban these law-breaking companies from the Port of Long Beach once and for all." – Daniel Linares, striking port truck driver, Pacific 9 Transportation. "We are encouraged to see that the City of Long Beach is looking at the issue of misclassification and how this scheme is having negative repercussions for thousands of port truck drivers and their families. We are excited to see what outcomes result from this study session." – Eric Tate, Secretary-Treasurer, Teamsters Local 848.