9,500 Carhaul Members (Teamsters) Vote to Reject National Agreement

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.teamster.org/08news/hn_080812_3.asp

Teamster Leaders Will Identify Workers’ Concerns

August 12, 2008

Teamster carhaul members have voted to reject the proposed 2008-2011 National Master Automobile Transporters Agreement and all of its supplements.

Throughout the 2008-2011 contract negotiations, the union sought first and foremost to preserve and protect the members’ job security and job opportunities in an auto industry that is suffering from economic upheaval.

“The proposed agreement eliminated various restrictions so that our contracted employers could haul more cars, thereby providing additional job opportunities to our members and protecting their job security,” said Fred Zuckerman, Teamsters Carhaul Division Director. “However, our members have made it clear that they do not accept the proposal.”

“Now that the ballots have been counted and the contract has been rejected, we plan to speak to our members and our carhaul local union leaders to discuss the issues behind this defeat,” Zuckerman said. “We will get our members’ input on the issues that concern them. We understand that our members are worried and angry about the difficult economic conditions facing the auto and carhaul industries. We hope to resolve this contract without going on strike.”