Port truck drivers launch indefinite strike at ports of LA, Long Beach

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Port truck drivers on Monday launched an indefinite unfair labor practice strike at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

This is a long-running dispute between drivers and three companies: Green Fleet, TTSI, and Pacific 9 Transportation. According to Justice for Port Drivers, the firms allegedly classify their drivers as independent contractors instead of employees so that they don't have to pay various benefits.

The truck drivers allege that the companies are retaliating against their employees for engaging in union and protected concerted activities.

"Unwilling to wait for the lawless industry to transform, drivers are rising up, to improve their jobs and rebuild the ever diminishing middle-class," Justice for Port Drivers said in a press release.

Strike organizers say roughly 40 percent of all imports to the U.S. go through one of those two ports. The three firms affected by the strike are said to be responsible for shipping goods to retailers such as Wal-Mart and Home Depot.

Port operations continued on Monday. Officials with the Port of Los Angeles say they were operating with minimal disruption.

The three companies have not commented on the strike.