TDU - Teamsters for a Democratic Union

Performance Transportation Services (PTS) is the latest Teamster employer to ask a bankruptcy court to impose concessions on its workers–and 1,300 carhaulers are facing cuts.

The company has not specified the details, but the wage cut request will be at least 10 percent and could be as high as 17.5 percent, which would match the concession that the International gave to Allied Automotive Group a year ago.

The move comes at a terrible time, on the eve of the contract expiration on May 31. PTS is also attempting to pull out of the employers’ joint bargaining group to bargain separately with the union.

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The International Union issued a statement calling on PTS to return to joint employer bargaining, and is conducting strike votes at PTS terminals this weekend.

Unfortunately, just six months ago, the International Union negotiated and supported a proposal that would have stuck the PTS Teamsters with a 17.5 percent wage cut. That was when the IBT signed a deal with Allied to acquire PTS, and cut PTS Teamster wages without PTS Teamsters being allowed to vote on it. Instead, the International Union conducted a vote of Allied Teamsters to modify their concessionary contract, and promised each voter a $2,000 bonus if the deal went through.

That deal fell apart, but IBT Carhaul Director Fred Zuckerman continues to act as if he works for Ron Burkle, the billionaire who owns Allied.

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 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.”

Reuters
April 7, 2008 - 11:25 am ET

DETROIT (Reuters) — Top leaders of the UAW and American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc. are to meet on Monday for the first time in months in what may be a positive development toward ending the union’s nearly six-week-old U.S. strike against the auto parts supplier.

UAW President Ron Gettelfinger and American Axle CEO Dick Dauch have not met since negotiations opened in December.

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