Teamsters Strike Overnite Transportation Co.

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Sunday October 24, 1999 8:19 p.m. EDT

Teamsters Strike Overnite Transportation Co.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -- The Teamsters union set up picket lines on Sunday at the Overnite Transportation Co. terminal here, and claimed the strike against one of the nation's largest trucking companies would spread to sites across the country.

A company spokesman said operations would not be hindered, as picket lines also went up in Illinois, Kentucky, and La Vergne, Tenn.

The Teamsters and Overnite have been trying to negotiate a contract for four years for the 21 centers where the union represents employees. The company has 160 terminals in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

``Instead of bargaining in good faith, there has been a pattern of retaliation and violence against union supporters,'' said John Murphy, a Teamsters organizer.

Overnite spokesman Ira Rosenfeld denied those allegations and said the strike was not affecting operations, and he didn't expect it to.

``The entire network is open, and will continue to be so,'' Rosenfeld said. ``We have a strike contingency plan. We use dock workers and drivers not on strike, and we also have temporary replacement workers.''

Both sides have said wages are not a major factor. A major issue is the pension system. Overnite wants to retain control while the Teamsters want to put pension money into a union fund.

Overnite is based in Richmond,. Va., and employs more than 13,000.

A subsidiary of Omaha, Neb.-based Union Pacific, Overnite competes in the less-than-truckload industry, in which the trucking company coordinates and consolidates small shipments of less than a truckload for pickup and delivery.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), October 24, 1999

Answers

Unions are stinking filth, especially those who intentionally hurt the most people.

-- Randolph (dinosaur@williams-net.com), October 24, 1999.

Old Git,

Thanks for the post. I have been watching this situation unfold.

This strike has the potential to shut down the various railworkers unions. One of Overnight's main contingency plans in the event of a strike is to transfer as much freight as possible to rail containers. If the railroad accepts the freight wherever there is a picket line, their union workers could walk out. The strike will affect Overnight, rails will not want these problems. This strike will probably only last a day or two. Overnight will say they will return to negotiating in good faith (like they have been saying for four years) but this time they will know that the newly elected leadership of the Teamster's Union will not accept unfair labor practices as the previous US gov. placed Teamster leadership did. The Teamsters are finally again being led by Teamsters. Go Hoffa.

-- Kato, Teamster Local 705 (uniondriver@safedriver.com), October 24, 1999.


Brother Randolph,

Sir you indeed pait with a broad brush...And have little or no sence of the labor movement. In your observation concerning the unions, you belittle hundreds of thousands of people who ask only for a day's pay for a day's work. And that they be allowed to do that work in a safe enviroment. It is indeed ironic, that when unio wages go up. The open shop people invarible get pay raises also...And their working coditions improve at least marginally as well. So by all means sir, continue to panit with your uninformed, opinionated, and completely asinine brush. Your creditabiity just lost flavor in some's eyes

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Shakey~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

-- Shakey (in_a_bunker@forty.feet), October 25, 1999.


Brother Randolph,

Sir you indeed paint with a broad brush...And have little or no sence of the labor movement. In your observation concerning the unions, you belittle hundreds of thousands of people who ask only for a day's pay for a day's work. And that they be allowed to do that work in a safe enviroment. It is indeed ironic, that when union wages go up. The open shop people invarible get pay raises also...And their working conditions improve at least marginally as well. So by all means sir, continue to paint with your uninformed, opinionated, and completely asinine brush. Your creditabiity just lost flavor in some's eyes

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Shakey~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

-- Shakey (in_a_bunker@forty.feet), October 25, 1999.


I looked up Overnite on the Web and came across a couple of articles which alerted me to the probability that they have apparently not negotiated in good faith. I hope they wake up to the fact that they MUST adhere to their agreements or the strike will spread. It's yet another reason to prepare--it's not just Y2K.

I once worked for a lawyer in the labor relations department of a large law firm in New Orleans and gained much useful insight. I managed to stay with the job for just over a year before I left in complete disgust. There's a middle ground somewhere but from my admittedly limited vantage point it was not sought by employers. That is not to say all unions are good--but I do not think all employers are good.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), October 25, 1999.



have voted in organization elections both FOR and AGAINST union representation. As a Systems person, I voted against because the metrics/quantifiability of what a Systems Analyst does are SO soft and SO squishy.

In the OTHER, I ACTIVELY looked forward to union representation due to some things that never got cleaned up in the org. Unions got in and DID fix the problems.

My bride has worked with both Union and Non-Union shops and has had better luck as mgt in the union shops. She is now a HR mgr in a Teamster Shop.

Chuck

-- Chuck, a night driver (rienzoo@en.com), October 25, 1999.


I just called my terminal....there is no strike...furthermore 85% of the drivers and dock workers do NOT want to be represented by the Union....thanks but the Big O and it's employees are doing quite well thank-you...

Maybe the Union should go and Oganize the BIG Truckload carries...Like J B Hunt and Schneider...

-- curt eby (zztop@epix.net), October 25, 1999.


Unions have the right under the National Labor Relations Act to demand information about employers' Y2K readiness and contingency planning. Have any of the union members/reps reading this list done so?

Also, if your facility is covered by OSHA's Process Safety Management Standard, you have the right to such information and to PARTICIPATE in contingency planning. Has your union leadership taken advantage of these laws?

For a list of questions to ask your employer, see the NIEHS Y2K Worker Awareness Handbook at http://204.177.120.20/wetp/clear/y2k/index.htm

-- d (d@d.com), October 25, 1999.


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