Wall RSS FeedArchive for July, 2008
What this contract means to me!
Thursday, July 17th, 2008I find myself trying to educate drivers on this contract and loosing sleep, over the worry of it. I speak to many drivers in my travels and I’m shocked by the lack of knowledge in the language, and articles. I see grown men, that have been in the business for many years and are stunned by all the changes, when you explain it. This is a contract that will change our way of living forever. I don’t know about you guys, but I truly love my job and I’m devoted to it. For some, this will be the last true car hauling job depending on how much seniority you may have. The institution that I believe in and ware with pride on my sleeve, has the capability to change our lives. This is disturbing to me, because we the members are on an island all by ourselves. How do I explain this to my wife and kids? My wife that has supported me through all the ups and downs of this industry. Here I am on Art 38, and have been away from home for 13 weeks. You go home here and there, but nothing amounts to the quality time with your wife and kids. Are these sacrifices for nothing? Yea some may say, “Your Making Money.” The point is that we all make these type of decision based on this great job and now it’s in jeopardy of being gone, do to the lack of leadership in our union. In the terminal that I work out of, there is about 30 guys that are 38’s and we will never be called back, if this contract flies. That is so unfair through my eyes, because we have given up everything to keep our jobs going. I have good friends that don’t have the options that I have, and are away from there families. They will never be called back if this contract is ratified. Thats why my passion is so intense, when it comes to this contract. I don’t hate the IBT, I hate the leaders that have no compassion for it’s members and stand shoulder to shoulder with the companies that think we make too much. The companies that walk over a dollar to pick up a dime, and have no respect for it’s employees. How do they sleep at night? What makes this even worst, is the waiting game. Waiting on the ballot count to find, we have been had! We have no protection and the only support we have, is each other. I will walk a picket line with you guys any day, and rather do that then, to see the outcome of Suckerman’s game.
Carhaul Director’s Hard Sell on Concessions
Wednesday, July 16th, 2008
Posted Today on the TDU
July 16, 2008: Carhaul Director Fred Zuckerman made $230,695 from members’ dues last year, but some members think he actually works for the employers.
JibJab Takes on the Candidates
Wednesday, July 16th, 2008Comedy Break
John Thyer Secretary-Treasurer
Tuesday, July 15th, 2008Fred Zuckerman, Co-Chairman July 15, 2008
TNATINC
25 Louisiana Avenue N. W.
Washington, D. C. 20001
RE: Zuckerman lies
Dear Fred PFH,
I have watched you lie day after day about the position I took at the Two-Man Committee regarding your tentative agreement with the employers. For once in your life tell the truth. Tell the members you lied and John Thyer and Dan Shott did, in fact, vote no at the Two-Man Committee on the tentative agreement. I did not vote on the National portion of the agreement for a very simple reason; you assured me that the Supplemental agreement did have protection regarding equalization of loads and we would have means to make an employer staff a facility properly. So listening to what you said, but not trusting you, I elected not to vote on the National and wait for your explanation of the Supplement. My first question to you during the Supplement meeting was, “My question is the same Fred. Where is the protection regarding equalization and staffing?” Your response was to the affect, there is none. I even gave an example: if Local 604 could negotiate a rate with Cassens Transport Co. in Fenton, Missouri going to Norfolk, Virginia under Article 2, Section 8, then get a return haul from Norfolk that only came back as far as Louisville, Kentucky, and being there is no equalization under this agreement, my Fenton, MO driver could haul every load that existed in Louisville, KY back to St. Louis, MO and your drivers would never haul a St. Louis load again. If you remember, your final answer was “yes, you could do that.”
READ THE REST
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Members of Largest Carhaul Local Vote 183-2 to Recommend Tentative Agreement
Tuesday, July 15th, 2008Members in Other Areas Also Voice Strong Support
July 15, 2008
Carhaul members attending local union meetings this past weekend voiced nearly unanimous support for the tentative agreement, including a 183-2 vote to recommend the agreement at Local 299, the largest carhaul local union in the United States. 8-O
Contract News
Tuesday, July 15th, 2008Carhaul Ballots Mailed on July 14
Duplicate-Request Forms to Be Faxed to Locals on July 21
July 14, 2008
Ballots and voting materials are being mailed today to Teamsters covered under the National Carhaul Agreement. We strongly suggest that members vote to endorse this contract and return their ballots as soon as possible. Ballot-counting will begin on August 4 and will continue, if necessary, on August 5
Memo to Drivers!
Sunday, July 13th, 2008I know that these meetings can be persuasive and look like the proposed contract wont be that bad. The arbitration committee can’t handle the grievance process now and have made GOD awful decisions on our behalf. The proposed contract is going to hurt us no matter what situations that may be beneficial to us. Whats good today wont be tomorrow, and the companies will change your terminal designed structure to implement the most cost effective way to run those trucks, so don’t be fooled by their propaganda. They are selling this to us, so it’s supposed to make some kind of sense. The hidden fact is that what is important to them is the $109 a week per driver that they got from the companies. A no vote doesn’t mean we will be going on strike, it just says to them that they need to go back to the table. When you receive your ballot there is a comment section and you write down your concerns and they go through those concerns and bargain. No one sane person once a strike, but we want a contract that our brothers and there families can live with.
100% No @ Local 710 in Chicago
Sunday, July 13th, 2008I had the pleasure to be at this meeting and was given the opportunity to speak. They tried to tell us that the reason the contract was gutted was, because the economic state of the auto industry. The number of units cut in production, and the loss of jobs in all of the industries. They also spoke of the companies and there financial state. They said that: “WE the union have controlled the business of the big three, and that are contract is the cause of their financial issues.” There was at least a couple of hundred men there and we were all shocked. Then we got the chance to speak, and some spoke of Article 48 and how it would effect the job we all love. They said any abuse by the employer, and we would have the grievance machine backing us. I found that to be comical, because they can’t handle the ones they have now. Can you imagine the thousands that would be presented to them if this BS contract passed? When it was my turn to speak I said: ” I’m not here to represent the TDU or any other organization. I’m here representing my brothers in this room, and my car-hauling brothers and sisters trough out this country. You are gutting 40 years of language and our brothers of the past sacrificed blood and tears to get us here.” I spoke of the articles of concern and the men cheered! I have not felt that type of passion in all my years as a Teamster. I spoke of Article 40 note 3 and how this article is set up to have us all fired before we retire, to be replaced by two tier drivers. We called for a show of hands and we knew, that our job there was done. A no vote sends them back to the negotiation table. We need to send those words all the way to Washington D.C. NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!
Workers Attending Local Union Meetings Get Answers to Their Questions
Sunday, July 13th, 2008
July 12, 2008 Teamster.Org
Teamster carhaulers attending local union meetings this weekend and during the past week have expressed strong support for the tentative national carhaul agreement.
Today, about 60 members of Local 957 in Dayton, Ohio turned out to hear Teamsters Carhaul Division Director Fred Zuckerman explain the changes contained in the tentative agreement.
“The meeting went exceptionally well — the reaction was very positive once our guys got the changes explained to them,” said Mike Darner, a Local 957 business agent. “There were questions about Article 48 pertaining to keeping the trucks loaded and Fred explained how equalization is not working. Even guys who expressed doubts last week are now in support of the tentative agreement once Fred explained the details.”
