| Hoffa
Testifies Before Homeland Security Committee, Urges Senate to Protect
U.S. Ports, Drivers |
| Says
Congress Playing Russian Roulette with Nation’s Security |
| From the RD
News Desk |
 |
(Washington,
D.C.) – International Brotherhood of Teamsters General
President James P. Hoffa testified today before the United
States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government
Affairs and urged Senators to improve security at America’s
ports.
“Let me start by telling
you what the Teamsters believe,” Hoffa stated. “We believe
that American ports should be run by Americans. We believe port
security should be managed by Americans. We believe, as it
stands now, America’s ports are dangerously vulnerable. And we
believe something can and should be done about it.” |
|
|
The Teamsters
Union has led efforts against the Bush administration’s approval of
the sale of U.S. terminal operations to Dubai Ports World, a company
wholly-owned by the United Arab Emirates government, and the no-bid
contract awarded to Hutchison Whamboa, a company widely believed to be a
front for the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, to inspect cargo
containers in the Bahamas. In fact, three years ago the Bush
administration previously rejected, on national security grounds, a
proposal by a subsidiary of Hutchison Whamboa to purchase a part of
Global Crossings. |
| “We’re playing
Russian roulette with our nation’s security,” Hoffa continued.
“But no matter how high we build fences or how many Coast Guard
cutters patrol the harbors, our ports remain vulnerable when the gates
are left wide open. And that is the situation at U.S. ports today.” |
| With more than 100,000
port truck drivers currently classified as independent contractors and
operating under the radar, Hoffa urged Senators to address this
potential threat to national security. |
| “Drivers operating
illegally in our ports, or operating in or near bankruptcy, are
vulnerable to blackmail and bribery. They are susceptible, knowingly or
not, to people who would harm our country. They are in a position to
smuggle contraband—or God forbid, a weapon of mass destruction,”
Hoffa said. “The system we have now is bad for our ports and bad for
America. Once Congress forces the industry to clean up its act,
you will have a workforce that can pass background checks. A workforce
that will be trained, efficient and productive. A workforce that will be
the eyes and ears of our ports—one that will make America more
secure.” |
| Report
Source: |
| http://www.teamster.org/06news/nr_060405_1.asp |
