February 21, 2008: TDU asked carhaul Teamsters what they thought we should to protect the standards in our master contract. We heard from over 100 concerned members and stewards. Here’s what members had to say. “The economy is bad and the carhaul industry isn’t doing well. But the Big Three positioned themselves to do better with the new UAW contract. By mid 2009, things could be picking up and there will be plenty of cars...

February 21, 2008: Bargaining begins for the national carhaul contract in March, and the concessions at Allied could spread. Carhaul Teamsters are talking about what we can do to protect our master contract and our Teamster standards. In late January Teamster carhaul officials met to screen contract proposals and formulate the demands for the national contract that expires May 30. On Feb. 20 local officials will meet again to approve the union’s demands. Bargaining will...

February 21, 2008: For thousands of DHL Teamsters, the long-awaited decision time is near. Are we going to let this giant corporation put a “red circle” noose around us, and convert good full-time jobs to three-hour part-timers? The DHL national contract and national Pick Up and Delivery Supplement are not yet public, but we have obtained the key details contained in the deal. The following give-aways have been agreed to by Brad Slawson of the...

February 21, 2008: For two years, UPS management has been violating drivers’ seniority rights in Virginia—and getting away with it. Now drivers have turned the tables on the company to stop the violations. For the last two years in the Staunton, Va. center, UPS management has been getting away with rearranging feeder runs in violation of the normal bidding process—and feeder drivers’ seniority rights. Now Local 29 drivers have taken action to put a stop...

February 21, 2008: UPS has wrapped up a new national contract—but the company’s contract headaches may just be beginning. This week, Chicago Local 705 kicked off a contract campaign with T-shirts that tell UPS management: “8/1, We’re Done!” August 1 is the day after the Local 705 contract expires with UPS. The Local 705 contract is independent of the national agreement and covers thousands of UPS Teamsters in the Chicago area. “Members are determined to...

February 21, 2008: UPS wants part-time Air Drivers to pick up ground packages—a clear violation of our contract. This is the first big test of our contract. Will our union answer the call? As Convoy Dispatch goes to press, UPS has launched a new program to use Air Drivers to routinely handle ground packages—a clear violation of the collective bargaining agreement. This is the first big test of the new contract. Our International Union must...

February 21, 2008: UPS Freight workers are joining our union by the thousands. Our union can win big for them. By mid-February UPS Freight workers have signed cards to become Teamsters at terminals that employ 5,600 drivers and dock workers. This means nearly half of UPS Freight terminals have joined the drive, and they are from all areas of the country. Reports come in by the week from locals that get a majority of workers...

February 21, 2008: Conveniently at the end of the voting period for the NMFA, YRC announced the demise of 800 Teamster jobs with the closing of USF Holland and Reddaway terminals in the Southeast and Southwest. Those Teamsters can apply for another YRC job and possibly get hired at 90 percent scale under the new contract. They don’t preserve their earned vacation time or other benefits. CEO Bill Zollars predicts an upturn in profitability by...

February 21, 2008: Just before downsizing operations in the U.S., YRC found the money for expansion in China. YRC Logistics will spend close to $70 million to acquire Shanghai-based Jiayu Logistics. Jiayu is an LTL carrier with 1,800 employees and 3,000 vehicles.

February 21, 2008: The next round in the fight over drivers’ hours of service rules is likely to come at the end of 2008 or in January 2009, before the Bush administration leaves office. That will be when the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) will likely issue their final rule to try to maintain the 11-hour drive time and 34-hour restart provision. A change in federal administration could mean a change in policy on...