Comments on: Summary of Key Language in the Proposed Carhaul Contract

By: texas jumper

texas jumper — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 22:12:33 +0000

homer you are idiot.If told you to jump out a airplane with out a parachute and you would not die you would do it.read this contract. If we vote this in it is is going to cost alot of teamsters there jobs you idiot

By: LOAD AND PARK CHARLIE

LOAD AND PARK CHARLIE — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 20:32:37 +0000

10/4 on that one Brother.

By: JerseyDevil

JerseyDevil — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 18:20:48 +0000

When PTS put the GPS/Log system in the trucks. They sent all drivers to a class for instruction on how to use the system. Shortly after that ,they were writing drivers up for going over hours. Even if it was just 5 minutes.There was no system in place to relieve drivers,who were out of hours. So if you wre 50 miles from the terminal and you were out of hours .You could not get a motel room becuase you were to close. If you continued to drive you were wriiten up for being over hours. The terminal managers answer to this, was to plan your trip accordingly. According to what ? The new contract proposal does not address this problem at all. Were there is no protection .There will be abuse by the company

By: texascarhauler

texascarhauler — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 18:07:42 +0000

satellite tracking and electronic logs , is only a few years away from being required by federal law for all large trucking firms, that’s why its in the contract that they can use it as a tool for disipline, pts didn’t use it like that because they couldn’t, by the contract, there is no benifits what so ever for us in this new contract proposal, and that’s all it is , is a proposal, hopefully there’s enough drivers out there that can read, and understand the what could happen if this thing gets voted in, they could single out any terminal at any time and starve them out.

By: Homer50

Homer50 — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 16:56:01 +0000

Those computers were just another idea that PTS thought was gonna save them money but instead backfired.

By: LOAD AND PARK CHARLIE

LOAD AND PARK CHARLIE — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 20:51:52 +0000

The contract allows for just that. Complete control over the rig, and over your ass. When PTS put the computers in our rigs, driver productivity went down. Driver attitude went down with it. And they did single men out for correcetive action… I was one of them. They can put the screws to you but quick.
I won’t work under those terms. And I wouldn’t want any one else to have to either.

By: texascarhauler

texascarhauler — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 18:05:15 +0000

THERE ARE JOBS OUT THERE WHERE YOU CAN MAKE COMPARABLE MONEY AND BENIFITS, SOME THE MEDICAL IS ACTUALLY BETTER THAN OURS, YOU MIGHT HAVE TO PAY $50 WEEK , BUT IF YOUR MAKING MORE MONEY YOU CAN PAY THE 50, YOU COULD GO TO ANY OF THE UNION FREIGHT COMPANIES AND MAKE THE SAME MILAGE AND NEVER HAVE TO WORRY LOADING AND UNLOADING IN THE RAIN AND SNOW, THE HEAVYIEST THING YOU WILL CARRY IS YOUR SUITCASE, WE HAVE HAD DRIVERS QUIT WHERE I WORK, GOOD CARHAULERS, BUY THERE OWN TRUCKS AND THERE ACTUALLY MAKING MORE MONEY THAN THEY HAVE EVER MADE IN THERE LIFE, ABOUT 350 TO 400 THOUSAND TO THE TRUCK, WE HAVE TO REMEMBER WE ARE A SKILLED TRADE, THAT THE UNION DOES NOT EVEN CONSIDER , BECAUSE MOST OF THE PEOPLE NEGOTIATING OUR CONTRACT EITHER , DOESN’T EVEN KNOW WHAT A WINCH BAR LOOKS LIKE, OR IS SO FAR REMOVED FROM SWINGING A WINCH BAR , PROBABLY COULDN’T EVEN DO IT IF THEY HAD TO.

THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE TRUCKS WITH THIS DEAL, AND SEND YOU ANYWHERE, ANYTIME, THE UNION HAS NOT PUT IN ANY CHECKS AND BALANCES AS FAR AS WHO GOES WHERE, AND WHEN, IF YOU GET ON THERE SHIT LIST YOU COULD BE PULLING TRIPS LESS THAN 150 MILES LONG EVERY WEEK ON RUNNING MILE, YOU WON’T BE MAKING ANY MONEY, WHILE ANOTHER DRIVER AT YOUR SAME TERMINAL, MAYBE A JUNIOR DRIVER MAKING 15% LESS WILL BE GETTING THE LONGER TRIPS, AND GETTING HOME MORE BECAUSE THEY LIKE HIM MORE . THIS CONTRACT IS A CROCK. WHERE IS ALL THE MONEY THAT THE COMPANY IS PAYING INTO THE HEALTH AND WEFARE FUNDS GOING, LOOK UP WHAT SOME OF THE CHICAGO LOCALS OFFICERS ARE MAKING.

I WOULD TAKE THE SAME RAISE IN PERCENTAGES THAT THE INTERNATIONAL HAS GIVEN THERE OFFICERS THE PAST 5 YEARS, AND WHAT THERE GOING TO RECEIVE THE NEXT 3 YEARS.

ALSO, I’M HEARING THAT WERE GOING TO BE DROPPED TO ANOTHER RETIREMENT PLAN THAN FREIGHT, BECAUSE FREIGHT HAS TO CONTRIBUTE $1.00 AN HOUR PER YEAR, AND OURS IN ONLY .85 CENTS.

By: gonzo

gonzo — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 12:21:05 +0000

Hommer for many years before us our brother Teamsters have fought very hard and lots of sacrafices have been made so we can maintain the standard of life that we work so hard to have. This has all been a direct result of Brother Teamsters standing shoulder to shoulder and doing what needed to be done to ensure the same quality of life for the next generation of car haulers and of course to secure the future of the Teamsters and our pension that we work so hard for. That is the main reason why at this point we must stand up and do what so many before us have done and yes there will be sacrafices made but hopefully the end result will keep the Union carhaulers and hopefully will be able to build the membership so for years to come we will all have good protected jobs, and this cannot be done by giving in to big bussiness and giving concessions at every avenue that they can be concidered.

By: LOAD AND PARK CHARLIE

LOAD AND PARK CHARLIE — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 08:54:39 +0000

Error in message above, Mike Niery

By: LOAD AND PARK CHARLIE

LOAD AND PARK CHARLIE — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 07:56:24 +0000

I agree that the benefits are important. I also have looked into several jobs, that require contributions monthly. I don’t agree to the new contract terms, carhauling is just to damn dangerous to cut them any slack on the conditions of our employ. Lets not forget aboue Joe Niery, he was killed by this job. These companies make enough cash off of my ass to cover it for me… I am sick of hearing about how bad they are all doing financialy. They always cry broke. No pay cuts, no loss of home time, no insurance co-pays, no negative changes to the current contract. no,no,no.

We need to settle this shit now, every man shoulder to shoulder, if I make less, then I work less. We are skilled labor, start getting that thru-your heads.
You may get a different job, you may make less money, you may even pay part of your insurance, but i guarantee, you won’t be working as hard as when you were carhauling. You sure as hell won’t be as much at physical risk. Why do people want to keep under cutting themselves.

Homer50, with this new contract, knowing how” we” used to run, we will never be home… we will never see our children. This job won’t even compare to the old job. I’m sorry, I can’t vote this shitty thing in !!!

By: Homer50

Homer50 — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 05:15:21 +0000

Guys, I just wanna say one thing. Since PTS closed I have had to start looking for a new job for the present time anyway. I have discovered that the once free medical that trucking companies used to offer isn’t completely free anymore. Most of them anyway have some form of copay $100-$150 per week for family coverage! The longer you work for some the less you will pay they will pick up more and more per year. BUT, there will always be some copay just for the coverage. In addition there will also be more copays for the other stuff.
I think you can see the point I’m trying to make here. Our medical is/was a very valuable thing. When I inquired as to COBRA payments to keep my medical going I was told by Meritain that it was gonna be over $1000 a month for my family. That’s money that our employers paid for us which I guess figures to an extra $250 or so a week,not to mention pension donations.
Please, I’m no fan of past contracts. I feel that the 3 year pay freeze on the last one was nothing more than a pay cut. Since we only got a raise for 2 we’re still down a year. But as I have learned these past few weeks since PTS went down. Our medical AND pension are not coming out of our pockets and are more valuable than we realize. Let’s keep these in mind when we’re talking about the new contract. The benefits are a valuable resource that we’ve come to take for granted. Only when they’re gone will we see their true value.

By: gonzo

gonzo — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 20:38:37 +0000

On the teamsters.org they have tried to reply to the TDU’s claims so it makes me wonder why they now are concerned about what is being said. I have to wonder if Zuckerman might have made his own deals with the companies and just thought that we were that unimformed about our craft that we would just accept his propossal

By: texascarhauler

texascarhauler — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 22:25:58 +0000

NEW SECTION

“The Employer will not be allowed to utilize any electronic log device or GPS tracking system as the basis for discipline EXCEPT in cases involving dishonesty, log or hours of service violations, unauthorized use, out of route, or delay of load and equipment issues or issues involving accidents”

WHAT’S LEFT , THEY CAN BASICALLY USE ELECTRONIC LOG DEVICE AS A BASIS FOR DISIPLINE FOR ANY THING THAT THEY WANT, WHY EVEN ADD THIS ARTICLE, SOMEBODY’S NOT PAYING ATTENTION!!!!!

ALSO BACK TO THE PROGRESSION WAGE ISSUE,I GOT SIDETRACKED , IF YOU HAVE A NEW HIRE STARTING OUT AT 85% OF FULL WAGES, THERE EARNING A 2% VACATION RATE, SO THAT IS 23% LESS THAN I WOULD BE RECEIVING, ON A $1000.00 A WEEK, WHICH WILL BE A GOOD WEEK ON THIS RUNNING MILE,SHORT LOAD CRAP, THEY WOULD ONLY HAVE TO PAY A NEW HIRE ABOUT $770.00 , WHICH WILL GIVE THEM $230.00 MORE TO PAY THERE BENIFITS, OK NOW IF THIS THING GOES THROUGH THEY WILL BE ABLE TO GO BACK 2 YEARS ON DAMAGES, AND ACCIDENTS, ANYBODY WITH MORE THAN 15 YEARS IN WILL HAVE A BULLSEYE ON THERE FOREHEAD.

By: Chainsdraging

Chainsdraging — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 22:20:11 +0000

the word I’m getting is a NO vote

By: 3 chain

3 chain — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 20:45:39 +0000

IM also a former PTS employee out of Chicago and do not agree with TDU. I came to this site to talk to fellow union carhaulers, and not to argue like other teamster websites.I agree with Texascarhauler what does tour of duty mean?The drivers I talk with out of Cassens in Elwood say they are voting no. .

By: LOAD AND PARK CHARLIE

LOAD AND PARK CHARLIE — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 20:08:32 +0000

I think alot of people will probably vote yes. It’s crazy but it will happen. Unless we get the word out about this unholy contract, we will all haul cars in hell!!!

By: texascarhauler

texascarhauler — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 19:05:50 +0000

THERE IS NO REASON TO PAY LESS TO SOMEONE DOING THE SAME WORK, IT’S THE SAME THING THAT WE WENT ON STRIKE FOR IN 1985, BACK WHEN OUR LEADERS WORKING FOR THE RANK AND FILE, AND NOT THE COMPANIES, I CAN’T SEE ANYWHERE IN THIS AGREEMENT THAT OUR INTEREST ARE TAKING CARE OF, IT’S EVEN INSANE FOR US TO BE DISCUSSING ANY PART OF THIS AGREEMENT THAT IS GOOD, THERE IS NO GOOD IN IT, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO STARVE OUT ANY TERMINAL AT WILL, PUT TRUCK TRAFFIC ON THE RAIL FOR ONE YEAR, THEN PULL IT OFF AND PAY RUNNING MILE .CAN ANYONE TELL ME WHAT A TOUR IS, IS THAT A DAY, OR A LEG OF A TRIP, TOUR SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING FROM FREIGHT, HOW LONG WILL 5 TOURS BE. I CAN GO ON AND ON THERE WONT BE 10 PEOPLE VOTE FOR THIS PIECE OF SHIT CONTRACT AT OUR TERMINAL.

By: LOAD AND PARK CHARLIE

LOAD AND PARK CHARLIE — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 04:38:18 +0000

I am also a former PTS employee. And I am not ok with any type of pay decrease. I don’t think this is a TDU website. I am a member of TDU, we don’t always trash the IBT, but we do try to hold them to a high standard. I wan’t the information that affects my job to be delivered in a honest and timely fashion. I am sick of the delay, smoke and mirror bullshit. This contract is no-good for teamster carhaulers…

By: Homer50

Homer50 — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 03:19:37 +0000

As a former PTS employee I would have no problem with this one. Sorry TDU as much as you LOVE to trash the International you’ve got this one wrong. Now, let’s see if we can find some others.

By: Homer50

Homer50 — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 03:15:41 +0000

Is this a TDU website? Look I’m not a huge fan of the International but I’ve learned over the years that TDU can lay out just as much BS as anyone.

From The Article:
“Wage Progression: If you hire at a different carrier, you would not receive full wages. Instead, you start at 85% of scale, 90% after one year, 95% after two years, and three years to reach union scale. (For non-CDL qualified employees, start at 70%, then 75% then 85%.)”

From The Contract:
“CDL-qualified employees hired into driving positions who are not currently on the seniority list at an NMATA carrier and who for two (2) or more years regularly performed CDL-required driving work for a NMATA carrier shall be compensated at 90% of the full contract rate of pay for a period of one (1) year and go to the full contractual rate thereafter, provided they have not had a break in service in excess of three (3) years.”