SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS RADIO) – The Port of Oakland's marine terminals are open once more after truckers' protest last week over California's gig worker law shut them down.
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Port officials announced on Monday that the port's "marine terminals are open and operating normally" after resuming operations on Saturday. Demonstrating truckers shut down port operations beginning on July 18 in opposition to Assembly Bill 5 after the Supreme Court denied the California Trucking Association's appeal of the law last month.
Under the law, approximately 70,000 truckers – and other independent contractors – would become employees, entitled to benefits like health care and vacation. Critics of the law, including freight companies and the protesting truckers, say it would result in the loss of jobs and limit the flexibility of drivers leasing or owning their trucks.
Danny Wan, the port’s executive director, said the "truckers have been heard and we now urge them to voice their grievances with lawmakers" rather than the port itself. The truckers last week called upon Gov. Gavin Newsom to amend the law, but a spokesperson told The Wall Street Journal on Thursday that truckers should "focus on supporting this transition" under Assembly Bill 5.
"Although it has been the subject of litigation, AB 5 was enacted in 2019, so no one should be caught by surprise by the law's requirements at this time," the spokesperson told the outlet.
The Harbor Trucking Association, which includes Oakland-based truckers within its ranks, said in a statement on Friday that the protest highlighted "massive uncertainties" surrounding compliance under the law.
"It is imperative a workable resolution come to the surface to keep the American dream alive for these independent businesses," Matt Schrap, the group's CEO, said in a release.
Port officials said the protests exacerbated existing supply chain issues stemming from Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in shipping delays of medical supplies, agricultural products, livestock, as well as automotive, manufacturing and technology parts.
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