Most operations at the Port of Oakland, a major West Coast cargo hub, were shut down on Thursday as a convoy of truckers staged a fourth day of protests over a California labor law. The disruption threatened to further congest a global supply chain already hampered by delays.
The truckers, primarily independent owners and operators, are demonstrating in opposition to Assembly Bill 5, a law passed in 2019 that requires gig workers in several industries to be classified as employees with benefits, including minimum wage and overtime pay.
Since Monday, parked semitrucks have clogged thoroughfares leading to the Port of Oakland as truckers call on Gov. Gavin Newsom to address their concerns. Along with a coalition of trade groups, the truckers want Mr. Newsom to issue an executive order putting off the application of the 2019 law to their work and to bring labor and industry to the table to negotiate a path forward.
The governor’s office did not respond immediately to a request for comment for this article.
Smaller protests were organized last week at the twin ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.
In a statement, Danny Wan, executive director of the Port of Oakland, said he understood the displays of frustration, but he warned against more delays surrounding the ports.
“Prolonged stoppage of port operations in California for any reason will damage all the businesses operating at the ports and cause California ports to further suffer market share losses to competing ports,” he...
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