Teamsters Car Haulers Again Reject Tentative Deal
Teamsters who deliver new cars and trucks have again rejected a tentative contract agreement, prompting union leaders to evaluate the next step in the long-running saga.
The balloting that began in late August resulted in 1,811 no votes and 1,479 in favor. The 55% vote against the five-year proposal was closer than the first vote, which was conducted last year. The 2015 vote was nearly 85% against the contract worked out between the National Automobile Transporters Labor Division, management’s negotiator, and the union’s national negotiating committee.
Union members, who have been working without a contract since Sept. 1, 2015, also turned down the largest supplemental agreement, covering the central United States, by a 3-2 margin with more than 3,000 ballots cast. Smaller supplemental deals in the East and West were approved.
“In light of the members voting no on the national contract and Central-Southern Supplement, we will reconvene our national negotiating committee next week and determine the next steps,” Kevin Moore, director of the Teamsters Carhaul Division, said Sept. 15. “At the present time, the union is not calling for any job action against any employer but will evaluate all its options over the next several days.”
Before the vote, Moore said negotiations “resulted in a solid tentative agreement.” Hourly wages were slated to rise by $1.70 for drivers and $2.10 for garage workers over the course of the contract, with additional increases for drivers based on miles run. Pay for drop-offs at dealers were in the proposed deal as well as a $1,000 ratification bonus.
The negotiations involve union members who move and maintain trucks that carry new vehicles from automakers’ plants to dealers. The two largest carriers are Jack Cooper Holdings Corp. and Cassens Transport, which rank Nos. 42 and 72, respectively, on the Transport Topics Top 100 list of the largest U.S. and Canadian for-hire carriers.
Working condition changes include banning of GPS or other tracking devices as the sole basis for discipline. Other changes include specifics of work preservation agreements for Jack Cooper and Cassens.
U.S. auto sales dropped 4% to 1.5 million vehicles in August, according to Autodata Corp, but remain near record territory. Management maintained that union car haulers are struggling to maintain market share against nonunion competitors and railroads.
