Univision's Primer Impacto Investigates Plight of Port Drivers

Revealing Expose Documents Dangerous and Exploitive Conditions for Port
Drivers

WASHINGTON, March 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Wednesday April 1st, Primer
Impacto, Univision's award-winning news program, will air an investigative
report on the dangerous lives of port drivers. The report reveals the daily
struggle these workers endure as they search for their American Dream.

Every day 16,000 drivers transport goods from the Los Angeles and Long Beach,
Calif., ports. The workforce is largely comprised of immigrants who have come
to the United States in search of a better life. Instead, they have become
victims of an exploitive industry that has used a loophole in the law for
decades to misclassify them as independent contractors. This tactic allows the
industry to deny the drivers basic rights including access to health care,
retirement benefits, worker compensation and lack of work rules and safety
regulations.

"The independent contractor scheme is just a way for trucking companies to
fatten their wallets at the expense of thousands of port drivers across the
country," said Ricardo Hidalgo, Lead Organizer for the Teamsters Union Ports
Campaign who is featured in the Primer Impacto story.

The drivers often work 14-16 hours a day just to put food on the table for
their families while paying to maintain their trucks and keep their gas tanks
full. In addition to the abuse these workers endure from their employers, the
job itself is inherently dangerous, leading to accidents -- that often go
unreported by workers who fear the financial burden of medical care -- and in
some cases deaths.

Primer Impacto takes a look at two families whose lives were forever changed
by accidents that occurred while a loved one was working as a driver out of
the Port of Long Beach. The segment allows viewers to witness firsthand the
devastating impact of these tragedies that have become all too common in our
nation's ports.

Efrain Medrano worked as a so-called independent contractor for over six years
before his accident at the Port of Long Beach. In March 2005 Medrano was
sitting in his truck at the terminal when a container dropped directly on the
cab, totaling his vehicle and injuring his back and legs. At the time, Medrano
refused the port officials' offer to call an ambulance because he believed any
medical bills would only make his modest pay seem even more insufficient.
However his more severe health problems would manifest later in the form of
post-traumatic stress when he attempted to return to work.

Stricken by panic attacks, nightmares and constant stress, Medrano was unable
to function. According to Medrano a port representative convinced him to not
file a lawsuit and promised to take care of him. Medrano received paychecks
and physical therapy from the company for more than a year until he was
convinced to sign a settlement that waived his right to take any legal action.
As an immigrant who barely spoke English, it wasn't clear if Medrano
understood what he was signing. He suffered a stroke soon after and is
currently physically disabled and unable to work.

Pablo Antonio Garcia was killed on January 28 while adjusting the chassis on
his truck at the Port of Long Beach. Garcia's truck was struck by a forklift,
pinning him between two chassis. He suffered massive internal injuries that
proved fatal. Garcia left behind a wife and three children.

However, Garcia's family was not left without support. As an employee driver
for Maritech Trucking Inc., Garcia was a member of the Teamsters Union. He and
his fellow drivers were able to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement
that included overtime pay, health care and death benefits.

Garcia's family was joined by hundreds of friends and supporters at a vigil on
February 11 near the accident site at the Port of Long Beach. They gathered to
not only honor his memory, but to demand improvements in working conditions
for all port drivers.

"The laws must be changed to protect these drivers," Hidalgo said. "Efrain
Medrano is just a single worker without any protections or a voice in the
workplace. He had no chance against a company that has shown it is more than
willing to exploit workers to protect its balance sheet. Pablo Antonio Garcia
has been lost to us, but his example lives on. He knew the value of having
rights and protections in the workplace and we will honor his memory by
continuing the fight for direct employment for all port drivers."

SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters

Coral Lopez of Change to Win, +1-310-956-5712, coral.lopez@changetowin.org