When the strike began, only 63 percent of the bargaining unit even belonged to the union. Failure to end Miami independent truckers strike causes fear A strike by independent truckers in South Florida is causing concern throughout the business community. Throughout the US, rising diesel fuel costs have been pinching the living standards of owner-operators and the indifference of transport corporations have caused many protests, such as the one in Seattle late last year. In Florida's Miami-Dade and Broward counties a strike is ongoing and has paralyzed the transfer of cargo at the area's port. Products are sitting in containers on the docks and warehouses are being forced to lay off workers, further driving up the unemployment rate in Miami, which already runs ahead of the rest of nation.
Companies claim they are willing to anti-up to meet the cost of rising fuel prices.
But that alone cannot suffice to end the strike. Miami-area truckers have a long list of grievances in addition to fuel costs. Truckers must buy insurance from the companies they work for who in turn gouge them through premiums. They also endure delays of up to 3 hours at Miami's port waiting to receive loads. The greatest fear of the Miami Chamber of Commerce is that the protracted strike will cause a shift in trade routes away from the Miami area.