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March 24, 2000 12:25 PM, EST

WASHINGTON — The Teamsters gathered port truckers from across the country for a rally in the Capitol to protesthigh fuel prices and poor working conditions.

	Michael James - Transport Topics
	Teamsters President James P. Hoffa (left) and union port director George W. Cashman (right) garnered the support of Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell at a port trucker demonstartion across from the Capitol.

The March 22 demonstration was the third time in less than 30 days truckers had parked their rigs at lawmakers’ doors, but the Teamsters’ protest differed in that it focused solely on the plight of drayers.

Record high fuel costs sparked the protest but the truckers and union representatives also wanted to address other smoldering issues such as low pay, unsafe equipment, a lack of benefits and monopolistic steamship lines.

“The reason why we’re here today is not just fuel prices,” said Jim Stewart, a driver from Savannah, Ga. “Fuel prices brought us together but we’re here because we’re tired of being stepped on by trucking companies, steamship lines and the ports.”

For the full story, see the Mar. 27 print edition of Transport Topics. .