July 24, 2013: The IBT called union officers to Chicago today for a meeting on the ABF contract, but there was no meat on the bones. Absolutely nothing has been negotiated with the company since the rejection the Central Cartage and Road supplements, and it appears that the IBT has little intention of making real changes.

They were more interested in bashing ABF Teamsters for voting No.

IBT negotiator Gordon Sweeton told officers that he will try to get a minor change in the contract, and send it out for a re-vote soon. Or, he will send out a strike vote.

Rather than seeing the rejection in the largest region as leverage to get some adjustment to the contract, the Hoffa administration intends to make token changes and pressure members into accepting it.

ABF Teamsters deserve leadership, not this cowardice. They are going to take a wage cut of about $5,000 per year; the rejection in the Central Region should at least mean some real change in the contract.

The local-by-local vote count is available here.

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