Port of LA extends lobbying contract
The Los Angeles Harbor Commission Thursday agreed to extend its contract with the Gephardt Group lobbying firm to promote legislation in Washington that is favorable to the port's clean-truck program.
That means Los Angeles is prepared to continue into next year its support for possible legislation that would amend the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act to give port authorities more control over harbor trucking. At present, federal preemption law reserves regulatory authority over interstate commerce for the federal government.
Amending the F4A, as it is known, is a hot button issue for the industry because it could lead to the unionization of harbor truck drivers across the country. The Teamsters union and environmental and community organizations support that effort. Transportation organizations and groups representing importers and exporters oppose it.
Shipper and carrier organizations continue to criticize Los Angeles for promoting what they view as an issue that should be left to labor and management.
Environmental and labor representatives who addressed the harbor commission on Thursday therefore applauded the port for "taking the heat" from industry. Those organizations maintain that an employee-driver mandate that the Port of Los Angeles attempted to include in its original clean-truck plan is necessary for the sustainability of the program and long-term reduction in diesel pollution in the harbor.
The harbor commission voted to add $55,500 to its contract with the Gephardt Group to bring the contract total to $205,500. The lobbying firm is charged with representing the port's interests in the development of legislation "that could potentially affect the clean truck program."
In approving the additional money, harbor commission President Cindy Miscikowski said Los Angeles' goal in amending the F4A is to clarify that the port has the legal authority to enforce its ban on old, polluting trucks. She noted that the port made no reference to employee drivers.
Trucking industry representatives, including the presidents of two harbor trucking companies that use owner-operators, said an employee-driver mandate such as contained in the original Los Angeles concession agreement would be too costly to implement. Their trucking companies would go out of business and the owner-operators, who prefer to remain independent contractors, would be out of jobs, they said.
At present, there is no legislation in Washington to amend the F4A. Congressional representatives that support the efforts of the port and the Teamsters could sponsor such legislation, or they could attach a provision to an unrelated bill.
That means Los Angeles is prepared to continue into next year its support for possible legislation that would amend the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act to give port authorities more control over harbor trucking. At present, federal preemption law reserves regulatory authority over interstate commerce for the federal government.
Amending the F4A, as it is known, is a hot button issue for the industry because it could lead to the unionization of harbor truck drivers across the country. The Teamsters union and environmental and community organizations support that effort. Transportation organizations and groups representing importers and exporters oppose it.
Shipper and carrier organizations continue to criticize Los Angeles for promoting what they view as an issue that should be left to labor and management.
Environmental and labor representatives who addressed the harbor commission on Thursday therefore applauded the port for "taking the heat" from industry. Those organizations maintain that an employee-driver mandate that the Port of Los Angeles attempted to include in its original clean-truck plan is necessary for the sustainability of the program and long-term reduction in diesel pollution in the harbor.
The harbor commission voted to add $55,500 to its contract with the Gephardt Group to bring the contract total to $205,500. The lobbying firm is charged with representing the port's interests in the development of legislation "that could potentially affect the clean truck program."
In approving the additional money, harbor commission President Cindy Miscikowski said Los Angeles' goal in amending the F4A is to clarify that the port has the legal authority to enforce its ban on old, polluting trucks. She noted that the port made no reference to employee drivers.
Trucking industry representatives, including the presidents of two harbor trucking companies that use owner-operators, said an employee-driver mandate such as contained in the original Los Angeles concession agreement would be too costly to implement. Their trucking companies would go out of business and the owner-operators, who prefer to remain independent contractors, would be out of jobs, they said.
At present, there is no legislation in Washington to amend the F4A. Congressional representatives that support the efforts of the port and the Teamsters could sponsor such legislation, or they could attach a provision to an unrelated bill.