August 16, 2010: Teamster carhaulers have been hit as hard as anyone by the Great Recession, which has drastically cut auto production. With the economy just starting to recover, carhaulers are asking “Where’s the union leadership?”

In June, Allied Teamsters returned to full union scale for the first time in three years, a most welcome development. But the International union has signaled that Allied can come back for concessions, and most carhaulers expect that to happen soon.

Meanwhile, employers continue to nibble away at the union contract on a terminal-by-terminal basis.

Jack Cooper recently told Houston members to accept a 15 percent pay cut, and Local 988’s “leadership” seems ready to vote the proposal.

The same deal may be coming at some other Jack Cooper terminals.

Jack Cooper, now owned by Innovative Equity Partners, states on their own website that they are now operating in the black and expect to make a profit this year.

Carhaulers don’t expect miracles, but they expect the union to have a plan to organize, to protect and expand our contract and job security. Most of all they expect the union leadership to tell the truth and quit hiding from the members.