(Las Vegas, NV) – The International Brotherhood of Teamsters today announced the formation of a port workers’ organizing alliance. By partnering with the International Longshoreman’s Union (ILA) and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), the Teamsters are poised to help bring the power of union representation to port workers across North America. “Port drivers need unions,” said James P. Hoffa, Teamsters General President. “By joining together, three of America’s most powerful unions can help these workers achieve the wages and benefits that they deserve.” 

By forming an alliance, the Teamsters, the ILA and the ILWU agree to respect each other’s traditional jurisdictions, eliminate any competition at ports and coordinate their efforts to organize non-union workers. The Teamsters will kick off the organizing drive by targeting approximately 50,000 non-union port truck drivers. Previously, the union has fought for a port drivers’ bill of rights including a full day’s pay for a full day’s work, company-sponsored health insurance, and the right to refuse hazardous material or unsafe equipment. 

“Port drivers are no different from their brothers and sisters that drive freight, bread and UPS trucks,” Hoffa added. “We will not rest until all port drivers have a legally binding union contract." Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents more than 1.4 million workers throughout the United States and Canada.