In a union-busting attack on carhaul Teamsters, Ford Motor Co. is moving to cancel its contract with the carhaul carrier Jack Cooper.
Hundreds of layoffs are expected. Ford is Jack Cooper’s second-largest customer behind General Motors.
The Teamsters represent over 1,400 members at Jack Cooper.
FreightWaves obtained internal documents pointing to layoffs at Avon Lake, Ohio; the Claycomo road facility in Liberty; Cottage Grove, Minnesota; Dearborn, Michigan; Louisville, Kentucky; and Wayne, Michigan.
Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien said that “the Ford Motor Company has officially threatened the livelihoods of more than 1,400 Teamsters-represented carhaul workers and their families. Ford [...] wants to boost its own bottom line by walking away from a family-owned company and into the arms of second-rate third parties that will pay workers less money and far fewer benefits to haul Ford vehicles.”
FreightWaves reported that Ford has already lined up alternative haulers and may turn to companies that use brokered transport going forward.