In a March 26 letter to its employees, Allied Systems revealed that back on Jan. 8 they requested the elimination of the June 1, 2002, contractual wage increase and health and welfare increase. Incredibly, Teamster leaders never bothered to inform the 6,000 Teamsters employed by Allied about the details of this concession request made three months ago. The International has rejected the deal; there is no way it could be accepted. Other carriers would immediately...

Allied Automotive Group has once again demanded concessions from Teamster carhaulers in the form of relief from the June 1 2005 wage increase and relief from “restrictive, non-competitive work rules.” IBT Carhaul Director Doc Conder turned Allied down on February 18. Allied’s CEO Hugh Sawyer dropped a hint (or a threat) into his February 1 letter, now distributed widely to Allied Teamsters, by mentioning the possibility of bankruptcy. If Sawyer attempts to use bankruptcy court...

The Hoffa administration hired a polling firm in May to ask many of the 4,000 Teamsters employed by Allied Automotive Group if they would accept mid-term contract concessions. The poll asked Teamsters if they would forego the June 1 wage increase of 40 cents per hour or accept other concessions. U.S. and Canadian Teamster carhaulers have not had a raise in three years. Allied management (or is it mismanagement?) has once again demanded concessions, claiming...