One of the biggest locals in our industry has about 40 members that have not yet received ballots in the mail. The members have contacted there local and are trying to get replacements. The IBT is giving them the run around, and this is concerning. What game is the IBT playing with our members? I will have more information on this matter later today. This seems fishy in my book, and can you imagine how many other members, have the same problem? How do we get a fair vote?

I have sent a letter to every major news outlet in America! Well just about! If that doesn’t work, then we are on our own! If thats the case then I’m going to get with a labor attorney and start an escrow account for donations for the cause. If this comes back as a YES VOTE, it must be investigated. The leadership of the Teamsters are doing everything in there power to change the outcome of this vote, and I would not put it past them to fix it. It seems strange that they are calling for a survey after the ballots have been sent out. It should be pretty easy for them to pull the no votes, before they are even opened.

I 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.

I 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.

I 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!!!!!!

The argument that the Union will insist on, is that any reprimand you get and is 6 months old, it will not be held against you. Now! They can look at the past two years and see what type of employee you are, and base a decision on what is in that file. Like a good friend told me today! It’s like going to court and your whole rap sheet is presented in front of the jury. If that doesn’t work in court of law, then it should not be in the union. This will only get us fired and replaced by two-tier drivers.

As for our brothers in Georgetown, KY they also said no. They too understand the forty years of language that is at risk of being extinct. If we don’t stick together as Brothers and Sisters we to will be extinct. We have an uphill battle to fight, but I see the light at the end of the tunnel.  

The Cassens Transport drivers out of local 327 in Nashville, Tn told there BA to stick it and made a verbal 100% no vote in meeting earlier this week. They will also have their ballots counted at the Smyrna, TN barn, for a sure count. This is what we all have to do, to assure us a true vote, because you know that there will be dead drivers, widowers, retired, and even management voting on this contract. I will be getting with some drivers that are going to organize a legal fund for us all, and supported by our donations. God knows we will be needing it, to investigate the clowns in D.C.

When PTS lost the Toyota work you drivers were not on strike and PTS was still doing business. Under the free trade zone agreement that the imports have with our government we can’t strike or others will haul away the work. LOOK IT UP! Therefore you should not dove tail into those locations. Under article five you guys who lost the other work because PTS was not doing business you should of been able to dove tail into those terminals. Many of us know that the Union has sold us all out for what ever reason, but we must stand up and take our Union back at all cost. The system is not perfect, but I understand what you guys are going through. The key is to protect what little we have left and fight for our carriers. The last thing we need is to fight among-st each other, and loose sight of our futures. These companies and our Union have a simple point of view, and that is to conquer is to divide. If we are divided, they win. That is the oldest war propaganda in the book! Like in battle you must have heart and work together to win. What are we wining you might ask? We are in fight with big business and politics, that is consuming us all. These are life changing issues that are being brought upon us on purpose, so we loose sight of the contract that is being shoved up our asses. Dove tail and end tail wont mean crap if they eliminate article 48, and start a two teer wage for new hires. If the contract flies it won’t matter and we loose the way of life we all share, and our families suffer the consequences of our mistakes. Lets come up with ways to take back our Union, and our way of life. I’m willing to sacrifice everything I know and love for a good fight, are you?

To the United Road scab! First of all, only an uneducated idiot would want to load next to another company, whos drivers make more than you. You have to pay for your benefits, and get 25% of what the load pays. What exactly does the load pay? You wont be able disifer that number with your tiny brain, because your slave driving company wont tell you the facts. That makes you a loser scab, that has to work 18 hrs a day to make what we TEAMSTERS make in 8 hrs. We Teamsters are professional car haulers, and the dealers wish they had us and not you. Your damage ratio is sky high, because your so busy trying to buy that house, and we already bought it. Ass bucket! Did you know that when you loser’s have to load at an auction you have to walk. When a Teamster gets to an  auction, we get a shuttle.

Perfect Scab Scenario!!! You wake in the mourning and you think life is grand, (In your little white and blue United Road truck) and you go into a new terminal. There you get a shit load and you say, darn this sucks. Then you see the terminal managers golf buddy FRED come in, and talk about what a good time they had the night before at the nude bar. Shortly after  Ole Fred comes out with a dream load, that pays a whooping $800 to go to California from Michigan. (SCAB RATE!..lol) Then you wonder wow! I wish I was a teamster. As for Hoffa and his boys they will be dealt with, and we will continue to get pensions, benefits, and more money than you scab.