On May 5, the East Bay Alliance for a Sustainable Economy – in partnership with allies from Seattle to Newark, N.J. – will make our congressional debut. We’re excited to be taking the fight for good jobs and clean air to our nation’s capital.
EBASE and a “blue-green-brown” coalition are fighting to reform the broken port trucking system. It impoverishes the truck drivers who transport the food and supplies you and I use every day. And it exposes both drivers and local residents to toxic diesel pollution.
I’ve met with truck drivers and seen first-hand some of the injustices they endure. But don’t take my word for it. As Ablelom, an Oakland driver, told the New York Times last fall: “This is straight-out slavery, only modern. The companies tell you to keep your mouth shut, take what they give you, and don’t say anything because if you say anything there’s always another guy who can do it.”
Fixing this broken system is key to building healthy communities and creating an economy where everyone earns enough to live with dignity.
Why Washington, D.C.?
We came close to passing a comprehensive clean truck policy at the Port of Oakland last year, but the global shipping industry joined together to block our progress on the road to justice. They simply don’t want to pay their fair share to fix the system. They profit off the status quo, in which low-wage drivers bear the enormous costs of greening the port’s truck fleet, and low-income communities of color pay with their health.
To remove the industry’s roadblock, EBASE is “going national” with this journey to Washington, D.C. As a member of the Coalition for Clean and Safe Ports, we’ll be making the case for putting an end to “sweatshops on wheels” before the Congressional Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
If you agree that global corporations should not profit at the expense of Oakland’s low-income communities of color, I invite you to learn more and also consider helping us get to Washington. Together, we can make our rallying cry of “good jobs, clean air” a reality.
Nikki Fortunato Bas
Nikki Fortunato Bas is executive director of East Bay Alliance for a Sustainable Economy, a nonprofit organization that advances economic and social justice by building power and raising standards for working families. 
Nikki
While I do believe some of these stories, I and many others don’t believe cleaning up the air is the real motive. Due to these motive questions be prepared to see your efforts met head on.
I also really don’t believe that your movement will create good jobs for those currently being exploited. I do believe that those ALLOWING themselves to be exploited, will NOT qualify for your good job, nor do many want it. That said, I ask what will happen to them? I also believe that if your successful, most of those that are making a decent run (which would be MUCH better without the exploited continuing to allow exploitation) will also not qualify for your good job, nor want it. WHAT does that mean for them? THEN, if we lose all these experienced guys and gals that have skin in the game and replace them with hourly union drivers, how many do you have ready? Then how many more ON THE CLOCK inexperienced drivers, will it take to do the job as efficiently as it’s currently being done? I’ve been involved in many aspects of the Port freight for many years Nikki. I don’t think it takes a pro like myself to see this is a receipt for disaster. It really could take two to three times as many trucks to do the same job.. Now I ask, what will that do to our environmental IMPACT?
Ron
As an immigrant I came to America for the FREEDOM of choice in all that I do. I also brought my values and kept them unlike some of the people you work with.
Peoples lives are real, not a game, not for your campaign to decide.
Find Able and have a talk with him about what he wants let him choose, read the article again and understand what he was telling you (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/30/us/30sftruckers.html)
I have been waitting for over 2 years to be allowed to join the Clean Safe Port Coalition, why are you delaying my membership, is it because I support FREEDOM of Choice? Because I like the DEMOCRATIC system? Because I care about my industry? Because I care about my community?
When this campaign was starting your campaign claimed 2,000 drivers sign to join your effort, where are they? Gone? NO, they are working at the Port of Oakland along side Able, they just found out what your campaign will do to the FREEDOM of Choice. Stop misleading and really help if you care.
Blocking the funds from reaching Oakland Truckers will put them out of business, stop blocking and really help if you care.
Oakland community is all of us not just the one’s you choose, like it or not the community will be here after your campaign ends. Participate with all of us working together to better our community if you really care.
FAAAA helps protect the UNITED States of America from division and political influence over local jurisdiction (state, city or Port) …AZ is a perfect example. Stop trying to divide us with changing the FAAAA, unite with us if you really care.
Truth is the truth.
I care.