The family of the port truck driver who was tragically killed in an accident at the Port of Long Beach will demand an immediate assessment of current safety regulations from Port Authorities during a candlelight vigil today at 5pm. The vigil is being organized by Teamsters Joint Council 42, together with dozens of port truck drivers, several local elected leaders, advocates from the Coalition for Clean & Safe Ports, and area clergy expected to attend and join in the family’s call.

Pablo Antonio Garcia was crushed to death between two chassis while picking up a load at the Port of Long Beach on January 28. This fatal accident was followed by another near fatal accident only 6 days later, where Felipe Curiel was lucky to be alive after a cargo container was dropped on the cab of his truck trapping him inside. 

Port driving is among the most dangerous jobs at the port and in the trucking industry overall. However, since the majority of port truck drivers are treated as “independent contractors” by the companies they haul for – an employer scheme subject of a California Attorney General crackdown – the frequent driver accidents are not investigated because no one entity is liable to do so. Pablo was one of the many port drivers who fought against the misclassification of workers. His battle against an unscrupulous system that denies workers basic employee rights ended late last year when Maritech Trucking Inc. officially hired Pablo as an employee, where he and his co-workers helped win a Teamster contract with higher wages and benefits negotiated through Teamsters Local 848, one of the local unions making up Joint Council No. 42

WHO: Garcia Family and Teamsters Joint Council 4 WHAT: Candlelight Vigil

WHEN: Wednesday, February 11, 2009

             5:00pm – 6:30 pm

WHERE: Port of Long Beach - Pier A90