If you were to listen to the word “union” what thoughts would cross your mind? To harbor truckers,
unions are not just about wanting higher pay, it’s about having a force that can help them face the
rapidly growing and highly competitive industry. The role of a trucking industry especially the harbor
truckers is very important in the movement of the economy through transferring goods from the ship
to the storage and distribution facilities. But what is this job if it’s not without complications?.
That is where unions come in, to provide basic representation for harbor truckers.
It’s time to talk about the effects and membership perks of becoming a part of a harbor truckers union to realize its significance.
Challenges Harbor Truckers Face
When it comes to the reality of work those offers with high pay and flexible schedules seem almost too good to be true,
and working as a harbor trucker is no exception. Truckers in harbor and port operations face a unique set of difficulties:
Long Hours and Unpredictable Work: Harbor truckers are typically expected to avail themselves at irregular and
extended hours of the day. In most cases, the activities of loading and unloading are not time bound and may take
many hours; therefore, the time spend by the truckers may go astray waiting for the right time to load or unload.
Safety Concerns: Experience the operation of large vehicles especially in crowded and busy ports has its own associated risks. Tools have to be well-maintained, and accessibility around the ports is often disorderly.
Unstable Pay: Payment structures are different, and many harbor truckers are proving themselves as independent contractors. This means income is variable; some of the truckers end up paying for other expenses such as fuel, repairing, and insurance.
Lack of Job Security: Being without union voice, truckers may suffer unfair working conditions, dismissal without just cause or erosion of their working conduct.
The Benefits of Union Membership
Joining a harbor truckers union can address many of the issues truckers face and provide them with several critical benefits:
1. Better Wages and Compensation
The primary reason for people to join a union is to be able to be paid for whatever they do at work. Collective bargaining protects the rights of workers whose representatives fight for a fair wage for the trucker to be paid by the employer for all hours worked without benefit of overtime. Unionization means that harbor truckers come together with equal bargaining power to demand better pay per hour as well as other packages like time off or bonus.