The Hoffa administration yesterday revealed the tentative agreement for the national carhaul contract, and then held a conference call to lay out the rationale for the proposed concessions.

We urge all carhaulers to review the proposed tentative agreement, to discuss it, and attend a union meeting this weekend if your local holds one. Teamsters United is holding a conference call this evening with open questions and discussion – you can get on it by clicking here and visiting the T.U. website.

Teamsters United carhaul leaders stood up and opposed the concessions at the September 22 meeting of officers from all carhaul leaders.

Warning #1: The Hoffa administration is doing a hurry-up offense on this deal, so please be on that conference call and review the agreement. They plan to mail the ballots on Monday, September 28. They initially announced in their Sept 14 bulletin that they would mail even earlier, but quick action by TDU attorney Barbara Harvey got a short delay. Get informed, get involved.

Warning #2: “Concessions save jobs.” Has that plan worked – in carhaul, freight or elsewhere that Hoffa has pulled it? We think it has failed, and the answer is a coordinated organizing drive among nonunion carriers. Especially now, in a red-hot automotive market. If not now, when?

Warning #3: Are the IBT’s written materials complete? Look for Articles 58-59 in the Central Southern Supplement materials.   Local 89 president Fred Zuckerman pointed out that those articles are not included, although important changes were made there: deleting pay for loading, fueling, and the first two skid-drops, in exchange for higher mileage pay. Did they omit any other changes?