ANR Strike Reaches Day Two

A strike against Milwaukee-based ANR Advance Transportation entered its second day Dec. 9 with picketing at all 41 terminals in 13 states.

Company officials said an estimated 500 shipments caught in transit when Teamsters drivers and dock workers walked off the job on Tuesday were delivered by other carriers.

Many customers have made arrangements to pick up their freight, the company said.

In a statement, ANR Advance said executives remain optimistic that the dispute can be resolved, but "acknowledged that erosion of its strong customer base could be irreversible if the strike continues indefinitely."

The Teamsters National Freight Industry Negotiating Committee was asked to allow striking employees to vote on the company’s final contract offer, but union officials have refused, company officials said.

"Had the final offer been voted by the members now striking, it would have been ratified and the strike averted," a company spokesman said.

The company spokesman said negotiators for the union seemed "preoccupied" with the Teamster election and may be trying to force new president James P. Hoffa to deal with the conflict. Mr. Hoffa was not involved in the negotiations and is not expected to take office until January, company officials said.

ANR Advance said it must have contract terms that will help the company compete in a market that is dominated by nonunion competitors.