Fear vs. Solidarity in Carhaul

August 1, 2008: As we go to press, 9,000 Teamster carhaulers are voting on a three-year contract that includes massive concessions. Carhaulers across the country are speaking out against the proposed contract.

The proposed three-year contract has a two-year wage freeze, which many carhaulers would be willing to live with because of the state of the auto industry.

But the concessions also give away many years of union efforts.

The proposal would gut Article 48 and allow locals to be played against each other; it would allow locals to agree to drivers’ pay below the national contract; new concessions for “new business,” which may be business that a carrier diverted for one year; the companies could open new terminals nonunion or under a sweetheart deal in the West; a tiered wage (lower wages for new hires) for the first time; it would allow the use of GPS to fire Teamsters; it would allow up to five dispatches before getting back home.

Campaign of Fear

We all know once we give away our rights, it is difficult to win them back.

Carhaul Director Fred Zuckerman and the International Union are responding with a campaign of fear and division. They are using the strike not as a threat against the employers, but against the members. (“If you vote No, we will put you on strike.”)

Instead of uniting Teamsters, they are bullying anyone who disagrees. They have issued statements lying about TDU, lying about Local 604 leader John Thyer, and lying about what happened at local meetings to discuss the contract.

The vote comes down to solidarity on one side, and fear on the other. The International has not convinced many members that the massive concessions are a good idea, but they have scared many into believing that the IBT will not deliver anything better.

But many carhaulers know that if the contract is rejected, the employers will want to settle fast and many concessions may be pulled from the table.

Hundreds of carhaulers from coast to coast have become active and involved. It’s time to build a strong rank-and-file network of stewards, members and supportive local officers for the future of our contract and industry.

TDU is committed to help make it happen.