June 2, 2008: Performance Transportation Services (PTS) is the latest Teamster employer to ask a bankruptcy court to impose concessions on its workers, in this case 1,300 carhaulers.

The company will be in court within days to ask for a 15 percent wage cut.

PTS also announced they would pull out of the joint employer bargaining and bargain with the union on their own. They pulled this stunt two days before the contract expired on May 31.

From May 31-June 1, strike votes were taken at PTS locations; reports from several locals indicate that members are voting by a wide margin to authorize a possible strike. Reports from officers indicate that no strike is expected immediately.

The International Union issued a statement calling on PTS to return to the joint employer bargaining.

Unfortunately, just six months ago, the International Union negotiated and supported a proposal that would have stuck PTS Teamsters with a 17.5 percent wage cut. That was when the IBT signed a deal with Allied to acquire PTS, and cut PTS Teamster wages without them being allowed to vote on it. Instead, the International Union conducted a vote of Allied Teamsters to modify their concessionary contract, and promised each voter a $2,000 bonus if the deal went through.

That deal fell apart, but IBT Carhaul Director Fred Zuckerman continues to act as if he works for Ron Burkle, the billionaire who owns Allied.

Teamsters Need Leadership

It is Teamster carhaulers whose jobs and futures are on the line in this wheeling and dealing. It’s time for Zuckerman to represent members, not Burkle.

Carhaulers working at PTS, Allied, Cassens, Active, Jack Cooper and PMT need to stick together in Teamster solidarity.

A two-year contract that provides for the employers to match the freight benefit contributions (the carhaul employers have all agreed to this) is the best move to hold our contract together and bargain together after Allied’s concession deal ends. Right now is our worst possible time to bargain in the automotive industry.

This is no time to give away what took decades to win in our contract. Concessions given now will be hard—if not impossible—to win back later.

What do you think our union should do to hold our contract together? Click here [1] to send your comments and suggestions to the TDU Carhaul Committee.

Stay in the loop. Click here [2] to get email updates from the TDU Carhaul Committee.