Yes that is a big problem and is a very large concern.
One of the teamsters that got it all started did it in Salt Lake City. He was here and rode with me a couple of days and I have to say he assuaged most of my concerns. Its set up to Impact seniority very little beyond the selection of the instructors themselves. And I don't know what to do about that except what WE did was take volunteers and hope they passed whatever qualification process the fort put them through. Luckily the only two that volunteered were accepted(me being one of them).
There will be no freight handled for the first 4 to 5 weeks and when they do actually handle freight it will be with the instructor on the instructors bid run. When they pass their cdl test and the instructor feels they are qualified to work in the city they will go on the bottom of the board just like any new hire.
I do think we need this program or something like it. When was the last time you saw someone under 40 or heck even under 50 apply to work at ABF? The two prospects we have now are barely 21. And one of them is working the dock as a casual and he is a very good worker, knows how the union works and seems to be willing to pay his dues both metaphorically and literally. Hopefully if they can be trained by teamsters they can be educated about all the protections and benefits the union brings to the table, maybe we can not go backwards at such an astonishing rate int he future.
I will agree with you that a program should've been started years ago. I consider it to be one of the "smoking guns" showing how short-sighted companies were in the decades following deregulation. And,......the Teamsters, no less. They should've been promoting an apprentice -style provision to the contract that would've addressed potential misuses and abuses of "trainees".
Any additional type of employee,.....with their own pay scale and conditions,......should've been negotiated,....or at least, signed off and agreed to by some sort of negotiating committee. By allowing the employer to set up and run these programs,.....basically outside of the contract,...... they are setting up a "past practice" scenario for the next contract round of talks. The Teamsters should have input as to how,.....and how much pay,.....these new employees are receiving, and exactly how much revenue-producing work they can be involved with.
Of course,....We all know how......"proactive"....our two disgraced and voted-out former Freight Directors were, as far as overseeing conditions and changes in the NMFA,....and the ABF NMFA. One can only hope that Mr. Soehl will insert himself into the dialogue and make sure that these new-hires,.....and new Teamsters,....aren't being abused and paid sub-standard wages. Allowing the company to create the pay and structure outside of the contract would've never happened 20 years ago. It's asking for a great leap of faith that ABF will "play fair" with these trainees. After the last contract debacle, where we were openly lied to,......... and then flagrantly smirked at once the contract got "approved",......and ABF got the green light to build new corporate headquarters for ArchBest and Panther,.....oh,...and corporate bonuses all around,..........It becomes a little hard to give ABF the benefit of the doubt that their "intentions" will remain pristine concerning these training programs.......... Hence, it becomes imperative that someone go out to the golf course and wake up Mr. Soehl dozing in the back seat of the cart,....... and let him know that ABF is setting up programs outside the contract, that PROBABLY should have his input on...........
I have the perception that,......more out of desperation than any altruistic motive,.....ABF is trying to keep these training programs within potential contractual guidelines. There certainly is a good point that ABF,.....and every other LTL company out there,......is starting to regard LTL freight handling as a "skilled" occupation,......in dire need of highly trained and motivated people. But,....that only reinforces my opinion that the Teamsters NMFA negotiating committee take this as seriously as the employers do. Hello, Mr. Hoffa?,....Mr. Soehl?..........Reality on Line One, do you want to hold?
