I have been traveling the past few days and spoke with someone high up in a large company that imports a lot of product.

Me: What the hell is going on over in California causing all those container ships to just be sitting there?

Him: "LOL, you seriously don't know?"

Me: No sir.

Him: "California passed a law requiring all 1099 independent contractors are now classified as employees."

Me: No way.

Him: "Yep! Guess what percent of trucking is done for short haul trips by owner-operators (who are independent contractors)? Around 70%! They can no longer pick up that freight and the large trucking companies don't want the small jobs."

Me: You have got to be kidding me.

Him: "Oh, it gets better. They passed a law banning all truck tractors that are older than 2011, too. There is NOBODY around to pick up the stuff and deliver it from the ports. The good news is GA, AL and FL are all trying to expand and accept more shipments."

Me: Politicians are f'ing stupid. People are losing money with product being stuck on ships because California passed laws that removed most of the folks who were hauling the stuff.

Him: "Exactly. And the trucking companies that can pick up the stuff, are having a hard time finding employees to drive them AND they are charging a lot more because of less competition."

Me: Welcome to the People's Republic of California.

Sounds about right

Unions at Calif. docks have bargained against automation for years also.
Lifetime paycheck for anyone who loses job to machine, and other nonsense.

Saw that Goldman estimated the combined value of goods sitting off the coast at $24Billion, that is insane.

Why did the Dead Kennedy's get so much right back in 1980?

After you read the OP post and saw the reasoning you still gotta find a way to try and blame the unions for what’s going on. It has nothing to do with them. If it was all automated it still wouldn’t be getting unloaded. That was just a dumb ass statement by someone who apparently doesn’t like unions. You can’t blame unions for everything. Btw I love my union. Thankful to be making a living wage and have my insurance paid by my employer. And a few other nice bonuses as well. All while my employers profit went up 22% this quarter. And y’all say businesses can’t make money if they have union employees. Maybe these not making it have too many high paid do nothing management positions.

Great for you....but most of us do not operate on a pension or guaranteed retirement. Neither does our capitalistic economy you bedwetter... which is why we have this problem

So now unions are the root cause of all our problems in this country? We don’t have a true capitalistic economy either. So you also think unions are the reason we can’t get trucks to pick up at the ports in California? Lemme think about that one. Nope, not the unions fault. That would be on the governor of California.
I’m blessed to have all that I have for sure. But I also wouldn’t do what I do unless there was a union there. We make our company a lot of money and I’m pretty sure the management appreciates how much we make for them.
But you weren’t supposed to tell everyone that I’m a bedwetter. I only do it when when I’m over at your………never mind. I don’t know you so I won’t finish that. You may get butt hurt

Damn see you been brainwashed on that union saved you stuff mentality.

Not saved by anyone but Jesus and I haven’t been brainwashed. Yet. But I’ve been in the union for 30 years. I get tired of hearing how the union ruins every business in America. It’s not a true statement. What about when mismanagement ruins companies. It happens as much as a union ruining a company. Greed is on both sides but most on here only see it as a union problem. I will argue for the union every chance I get. Without them I wouldn’t have the pay and benefits that I currently have. The company would just pay us less and line their pockets with more money. Because they are greedy as well.

Thats exactly what the union wants you to think.

I don’t think that I would have less pay and benefits. I know for a fact I would. I know who I work for. They cut the throats of their own management people. They are extremely greedy.

Who woulda thunk it. I could be richer and less worked if weren't for you sorry unions squatters.

You need an application??

Probably beats the hell outta what I'm doing now....lol.

That must be a pic of JustHunt after he receives discipline from the management side.

Na. I haven’t met any management man enough to discipline me yet.

Because of the union lol I kid I kid.

Don't stir it up!