Teamster Negotiators Call on Company to Return to Multiemployer Talks

May 29, 2008

Performance Transportation Services, Inc. notified Teamster carhaul negotiators late on Thursday, May 29 that it has withdrawn from multiemployer contract talks. Union leaders quickly informed the company that it has no right to withdraw from the multiemployer bargaining negotiations, which have reached a critical stage after several months of intense bargaining.

The deadline for bargaining is midnight Saturday, May 31.

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Money would be used for UAW buyout program
DETROIT — General Motors has agreed to pay $200 million to help with employee buyouts and “buy-downs” to help resolve a crippling strike at American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc.
In a regulatory filing today, GM said the agreement is “predicated upon an expedited resolution to the ongoing strike called by the International UAW against American Axle.”
About 3,650 workers at five …  story 

UAW STRIKE AT AMERICAN AXLE

DETROIT — General Motors has told its dealers it has suspended production of some 2008 full-sized trucks and SUVs because of the American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings strike.

The vehicles:

• GMC Yukon

• GMC Denali

• GMC Sierra heavy-duty regular cab

• GMC Sierra heavy-duty extended cab

• GMC commercial heavy-duty

• Chevrolet Tahoes and same variants for Chevrolet full-sized trucks.

“Essentially, we’re not accepting any more orders,” says Randy Fox, GMC spokesman

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May 1, 2008

Teamster leaders negotiating the National Master Automobile Transporters Agreement said both sides remain apart on key issues, but they are cautiously optimistic that the issues will be resolved.

National contract talks resume May 18-31 in Arlington, Virginia.

“We remain apart on key issues but we are making progress and we are cautiously optimistic that we will resolve the differences by the end of this month,” said Fred Zuckerman, Director of the Teamsters Carhaul Division.

The agreement, when reached, would be retroactive to May 31, when the current contract expires.

“When we are done, I fully expect that we will have protected our members’ health, welfare and pension benefits, and increased their job security,” Zuckerman said.

The current contract covers about 9,000 workers.

Meanwhile, carhaul Teamsters are invited to attend two of the remaining meetings at local unions to give input on what issues should be the priorities at the bargaining table.

Meetings have already been held in Detroit; Toledo, Ohio; Fort Wayne, Indiana; and in Louisville, Kentucky.

The following meetings are scheduled:

• Dallas, Texas, Local 745, noon Sunday, May 4,

• Buffalo, New York, Local 449, 9 a.m. Saturday, May 10, and

• Lansing, Michigan, Local 580, 7 a.m. Monday, May 12.

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May 2, 2008

Leaders from Local 89 in Louisville, Kentucky are trying to stop a Canadian company from assisting Ford in eliminating 450 Teamster jobs at a carhaul rail-loading and vehicle-handling company in the city.

Since 1956, Teamsters have been loading Ford vehicles since Ford’s Louisville Assembly plant opened that year. Teamsters have also loaded Ford vehicles since its Kentucky Truck plant opened in 1969.

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UAW official: Half of striking workers will take buyouts

Two American Axle forging plants likely to close
DETROIT — The outgoing president of a key UAW local at American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc. said today that he expects at least half of the 3,650 striking workers at the axle maker to take a buyout once a contract is completed.
Adrian King, president of UAW Local 235 representing workers at American Axle’s Detroit complex, said talks probably will last beyond the weekend. He said it … story Published: May 2 4:17 pm U.S. Eastern time [REG]

Ford to launch more UAW buyouts

DETROIT — Ford Motor Co. will offer more buyouts to hourly workers at assembly plants in Chicago and Louisville, Ky.
Mark Fields, Ford President of the Americas, confirmed in an interview with Automotive News that those two plants will be part of another round of buyouts the automaker is about to begin. The new round will target only certain plants, and the offers have not gone out, … story

Protecting Benefits, Boosting Job Security are Top Priorities

April 23, 2008 ( original Article )

National Master Automobile Transporters Agreement talks resumed today, April 23, in Florence, Kentucky.

“Our goals continue to be protecting our members’ health, welfare and pension benefits, and increasing their job security,” said Fred Zuckerman, Carhaul Division Director.

The current contract, which covers about 9,000 workers, expires on May 31, 2008.

Talks this week are scheduled to run until Friday, April 25. Talks will continue May 18-31 in Arlington, Virginia.

Members Invited to Offer Ideas

April 17, 2008

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The Teamsters Carhaul Division has scheduled meetings at local unions where members are invited to offer input about the national contract negotiations that are under way.

“Earlier this week about 80 members turned out at Local 299 in Detroit and we received great input from the members, and we hope to get more guidance at the upcoming meetings,” said Fred Zuckerman, Director of the Teamsters Carhaul Division. “We invite all carhaul Teamsters to attend the meetings and help us determine what the contract priorities should be.”

The following meetings have been scheduled at these local unions:

• Toledo, Ohio, Local 20, 9 a.m. Saturday, April 26;

• Dayton, Ohio, Local 957, 3 p.m. Saturday, April 26;

• Fort Wayne, Indiana, Local 414, 9 a.m. Sunday, April 27;

• Louisville, Kentucky, Local 89, 2 p.m. Monday, April 28;

• Dallas, Texas, Local 745, noon Sunday, May 4, and

• Lansing, Michigan, Local 580, 7 a.m. Monday, May 12.

National contract talks resume April 23 in Florence, Kentucky.

 April 15, 2008

TEAMSTER.ORG

On Monday, April 14, carhaul Teamsters who belong to Local 299 in Detroit provided valuable input to union leaders who are negotiating the national contract, with many members agreeing that contract changes are needed to boost job security.

“This meeting at our largest carhaul local union was a good opportunity for members to let us know what’s on their minds,” said Fred Zuckerman, Director of the Teamsters Carhaul Division. “For example, the members recognize that we need to revise Article 48 so that the employers have a better chance to compete against the non-union companies. This in turn will give our members more job security and the chance to earn more money with backhauls and fuller loads.”

David Barkholz
and Robert Sherefkin
Automotive News
April 8, 2008 - 3:18 pm ET

General Motors is reopening two assembly plants this month with axles supplied from Mexico by American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc., sources have told Automotive News.

The 7-week-old UAW strike at five American Axle plants had shut GM’s light-truck plant in Fort Wayne, Ind., until the company this week resumed production there of the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra. GM also intends to restart production of its full-sized pickups in Oshawa, Ontario, starting the week of Monday, April 21.

American Axle is supplying the plants from its factory in Guanajuato, Mexico, the sources said.

It is the same plant that has supplied axles and other parts throughout the strike to GM’s Silao, Mexico, factory and an SUV plant in Arlington, Texas.