Santos, an independent truck driver, was describing the results of a week-and-a-half long walkout by a 100 owner-operators from Bridge Terminal Transport (BTT) that began October 24. The drivers demanded better rates as compensation for high fuel costs.

Over the last decade, Santos said, these drivers were getting only 85 cents a mile. The initial demand was $1.20 a mile, and they won slightly more than that, he said, elated.

The BTT bosses had fired three drivers off the bat as an opening salvo and called in the cops to further intimidate the strikers.

The company initially offered a miserly 10 cents a mile increase, which the drivers rejected as an insult. Their determination to stick together, as well as the publicity in the Spanish-language media and solidarity from other drivers, forced the company to back down.
 
 
Related article:
Truckers at Los Angeles port fight lower pay and longer hours  
 
 
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