Truckers at 2 Calif. ports OK cooling off period

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Truck drivers at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have agreed to a cooling-off period following five days of striking that briefly shut the massive ports.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said he requested the cooling-off period, and the truckers agreed Saturday to pull down pickets while the city investigates their allegations of unfair labor practices.

The drivers began striking Monday against three trucking companies that they said have prevented them from unionizing and improperly classified them as contractors to minimize wages and benefits.

Cargo moved normally, but on Tuesday nearly 1,000 dockworkers at four terminals walked off their jobs in solidarity with the truckers. The walkout briefly disrupted the movement of international cargo before an arbitrator ruled that what they were doing was not permissible.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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