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(Arkansas Best Corp) ABF, Teamsters Extend Contract to Allow Vote
http://www.ttnews.com/articles/basetemplate.aspx?storyid=32121&t=ABF-Teamsters-Extend-Contract-to-Allow-Vote
5/31/2013 10:15:00 AM
Arkansas Best Corp. has again extended the contract between its ABF Freight System less-than-truckload unit and the Teamsters union, in order to give union members time next month to approve a tentative labor agreement.
The extension runs through June 30. ABF and the Teamsters reached a tentative agreement earlier this month, which must still be approved by Teamsters rank-and-file members.
The contract was extended twice from its original March 31 expiration date while negotiations continued.
Arkansas Best Corp. is ranked No. 13 on the Transport Topics Top 100 listing of U.S. and Canadian for-hire carriers.
By Transport Topics
4 replies
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link to ABF tentative agreement
https://tdu.org/sites/default/files/ABF%20National%20Master%20Freight%20Agreement%202013%202018.pdf
Key changes in the proposed Tentative Agreement include:
Immediate 7 percent wage reduction.
2 percent wage increases in the following three years; 2.5 percent in the last year of five-year contract.
Loss of one week vacation across the board.
A Memorandum of Agreement to allow subcontracting of road work ("Purchased Transportation"
up 6 percent of total miles (if limit is enforceable).
Health and welfare benefits maintained.
Pension contributions only to the extent required to protect pension benefits (this means no increase in contributions to the Central States or Western Conference Funds for the next five years).
Management may use audio, video, electronic tracking devices to fire employees for "stealing time," without corroboration and without a warning letter! (New section of Article 26).
Cost of Living clause limited and with 5¢ maximum possible.
Coffee breaks limited to 10 minutes (Addendum B).
Working across classifications expanded (Addendum C; and supplements). Drop and hooks, etc.
Supervisors can handle dock pick-ups if no dock worker is on duty (Article 3).
Profit sharing bonus if operating ratio gets to 96 percent or better.
Local grievance panels eliminated.
Immediate 7 percent wage reduction.
2 percent wage increases in the following three years; 2.5 percent in the last year of five-year contract.
Loss of one week vacation across the board.
A Memorandum of Agreement to allow subcontracting of road work ("Purchased Transportation"
up 6 percent of total miles (if limit is enforceable).
Health and welfare benefits maintained.
Pension contributions only to the extent required to protect pension benefits (this means no increase in contributions to the Central States or Western Conference Funds for the next five years).
Management may use audio, video, electronic tracking devices to fire employees for "stealing time," without corroboration and without a warning letter! (New section of Article 26).
Cost of Living clause limited and with 5¢ maximum possible.
Coffee breaks limited to 10 minutes (Addendum B).
Working across classifications expanded (Addendum C; and supplements). Drop and hooks, etc.
Supervisors can handle dock pick-ups if no dock worker is on duty (Article 3).
Profit sharing bonus if operating ratio gets to 96 percent or better.
Local grievance panels eliminated.
Aside from wage cuts and vacation loss, I don't know how they can avoid having local grievance hearings. Allowing supervisors to handle freight and subcontracting of road work is a bad idea. Ask UPS Freight drivers what subcontracting has done to their road board.
Freight Teamsters are in bad shape, folks.
