Con-way Workers Back Union at Texas LTL Terminal

Drivers and dockworkers at Con-way Freight’s Laredo, Texas, terminal have become the first workers at the less-than-truckload carrier to become union members.

The vote at the LTL carrier that is the third-largest in the United States was the first representation election in at least two decades for the unit of Con-way Inc., which ranks No. 4 on the Transport Topics Top 100 list of U.S. and Canadian for-hire carriers.

The workers’ approval of union representation cleared the way for them to become members of Local 657.

As a result of the vote, the union represents the workers in contract negotiations at that terminal. However, there is no contract in place at this time, and no negotiations have begun.

“Con-way Freight does not have a contract with the union. While the Teamsters will represent the approximately 100 Con-way Freight employees in contract negotiations, existing terms and conditions of employment with Con-way Freight’s employees in Laredo remain unchanged at this time.

This election applies only to employees at Con-way Freight’s Laredo service center and has no effect on other locations of Con-way Freight or locations of any other subsidiaries of Con-way Inc.  The 22,000 employees of Con-way Freight at the company’s other 272 service centers across the U.S. continue to operate union free.

We were disappointed with the results of the Laredo election, and we do not believe that union representation is in the best interests of our employees.  These developments will not affect Con-way Freight’s overall ability to serve our customers,” a Con-way spokeswoman said in a statement e-mailed to TT.

The 55-49 vote was described by the company as “a narrow majority.”