ANR Rejects Teamsters Proposal

MILWAUKEE — ANR Advance Transportation rejected a proposal by the Teamsters union to end a week-long strike.

In a statement, company officials said the proposal fails to address key issues while adding $30 million in costs over five years.

The union proposal, submitted late Friday, reduced fourth and fifth year wage increases by a total of 15 cents per hour, company officials said.

No other meetings are scheduled.

Approximately 1,400 drivers and dock workers walked off the job Dec. 8.

A strike was ordered by the Teamsters National Freight Industry Negotiating Committee after the company implemented its final offer prior to the Thanksgiving holiday break.

ANR Advance has refused to accept terms of the National Master Freight Agreement, saying it needs a contract with more flexibility and lower costs to enable it to compete with nonunion rivals.

Efforts to move freight caught in transit was hampered by picket lines and the threat of roving pickets following trucks, but company officials said on Monday that most shipments have now been delivered.

In a statement released on Friday, company officials said if the strike continues "a few more days," the chances of reclaiming lost business diminishes greatly.

A 1994 Teamsters strike against four major long-haul less-than-truckload carriers demonstrated there is ample capacity to absorb business in a strike and customers who divert to nonunion companies seldom return if pricing and service are equal, the company pointed out.

In a related development, Coastal Corp. said is evaluating whether to discontinue its interest in ANR Advance. The Houston-based energy company owns 50% of ANR Advance.

For the full story, see the Dec. 21 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.