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ABF | ABF / Teamsters Future

I watched the 2nd quarter report video yesterday & thought these 3 points made by Davidson were interesting.

1-He is prepared to write a check for $600 million to pull out of the MEPF if the IBT will let him.

2-ABF will always be a Teamster job.

3- FedEx is planning a big push in sept. to try & use the threat of a union strike in order to take away a lot of our business.
 
Yeah seems one of our members, who is not a Teamster, has already started spreading the BS about a strike. Amazing how much outsiders always know about the unions business. They seem to have experts all over the place.

Sounded strange to hear him say plan B was easier than plan A.
 
No offense to the driver that served up the question, but it allowed Davidson to get all his points across with just 1 answer.

"Staged" is probably the right word.
 
2631 said:
No offense to the driver that served up the question, but it allowed Davidson to get all his points across with just 1 answer.

"Staged" is probably the right word.
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Not a doubt in my mind that it was staged. Davidson can't respond to a question unless it is scripted.
 
I'll tell you what when Dave Stubblefield was president, that MFer was as legit as they come. Davidson is an OK leader in the boardroom and behind the scenes, but not out in public, which leads me to believe he has other people pulling strings
 
I always liked Stubblefield. I have not cared for Davidson from the get go. Even less since he started all his anti propaganda.
 
davidson has already started to negotiate down the withdrawal liability they would have to pay
the number is 650 mil not 600 mil
typical
 
This isn't the first time ABF has brought this up.....they started tossing this out there last year and it didn't get much play. Now it's getting closer to Contract negotiation time so they parade it again. I see it as a tactic that in the end they'll never get away with, but employees who buy into it will be relieved and vote yes on whatever the Contract proposals are and think "Whew, at least we still have our pensions." Since pensions are getting a lot of attention these days it's something they can attempt to scare us with.

Also, for what it's worth, the Companies are the ones pushing for a quick settlement in the 2008 agreement which puts us at somewhat of an advantage right from the start.
 
stldude44 said:
This isn't the first time ABF has brought this up.....they started tossing this out there last year and it didn't get much play. Now it's getting closer to Contract negotiation time so they parade it again. I see it as a tactic that in the end they'll never get away with, but employees who buy into it will be relieved and vote yes on whatever the Contract proposals are and think "Whew, at least we still have our pensions." Since pensions are getting a lot of attention these days it's something they can attempt to scare us with.

Also, for what it's worth, the Companies are the ones pushing for a quick settlement in the 2008 agreement which puts us at somewhat of an advantage right from the start.
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Exactly right, stldude... They're merely rattling their sabres for a distraction. They're riding on the coattails of what the airlines and other sectors have been doing with their pension plans and new pension rules being coughed up by the Feds. As far as YRC is concerned, Yellow has always been famous for being able to go into an operational tailspin, in any region, at any time to justify anything they're about to ask for and claim it in the name of "economic necessity". I believe that Bad Bob must have drawn the short straw at the last TMI "get together" and was made to throw the pension scare out on the battlefield... I say look for strong pursuit of work rule and job classification changes. More FLEXIBILITY...
 
HiwayHombre said:
I believe that Bad Bob must have drawn the short straw at the last TMI "get together" and was made to throw the pension scare out on the battlefield... I say look for strong pursuit of work rule and job classification changes. More FLEXIBILITY...
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In the Quarterly report that we saw that very thing is what he really laid out. How all the work rules we have are so restrictive and out of date causing us to be non competitive with the non union side. They need more "Flexibility"! Yeah right we need to be flexible while they lay it in us.

 
hillbilly frog said:
In the Quarterly report that we saw that very thing is what he really laid out. How all the work rules we have are so restrictive and out of date causing us to be non competitive with the non union side. They need more "Flexibility"! Yeah right we need to be flexible while they lay it in us.
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Yeah, they've been singin' that same song over here for a long time. The weapon of choice for Yellow right now (from my vantage point) is letting the linehaul linger on the clock waiting for freight to close at the dock and keeping the yard busy with meaningless re-hooks and BS work while scheduled departures set on the ready line strung and waiting on power (with power available and ready in the corral), etc... Freight runs late, service missed... Ten will get you twenty that they will throw the paid wait time/lost revenue (due to poor service) figures on the table for justification...

The pension talk (in freight) is just a fart in a whirlwind when compared to what they really want...
 
HiwayHombre said:
Exactly right, stldude... They're merely rattling their sabres for a distraction. They're riding on the coattails of what the airlines and other sectors have been doing with their pension plans and new pension rules being coughed up by the Feds. As far as YRC is concerned, Yellow has always been famous for being able to go into an operational tailspin, in any region, at any time to justify anything they're about to ask for and claim it in the name of "economic necessity". I believe that Bad Bob must have drawn the short straw at the last TMI "get together" and was made to throw the pension scare out on the battlefield... I say look for strong pursuit of work rule and job classification changes. More FLEXIBILITY...
Click to expand...
HH,
I'd say you're absolutely correct. I remember in the mid 80's the rumor was floated around that the Companies wanted to be able to use a road driver on the dock or in the city/yard when he arrived home on an 8 hour mini to make him earn all 8. In the 1994 negotiations they threw out the part timer thing.....when in reality they wanted, and were allowed, to almost double the rail freight. I've never been told this officially, but I firmly believe that in the 2003 negotiations the Companies put it this way......we'll give you guys raises and continue to pay for all of the H&W and pension but we'll need more favorable grievance decisions due to competition with Companies who are able to dictate just what their employees are going to do at any time. This time around might also see a serious crackdown on absenteeism. I like to think that it won't be too bad but we'll all have to wait and see.
 
Thats a great big 10-4 stldude44.
Contracts are always give,and take.
Whenever the workers want a better package.
the companies always want some give backs,to make them come to the table with an increases.

The more the workers want,and the more the union rep's think they can get,the more the companies want in return.

This is American commerce after all free enterprise isn't really free.
 
Apostolic said:
Thats a great big 10-4 stldude44.
Contracts are always give,and take.
Whenever the workers want a better package.
the companies always want some give backs,to make them come to the table with an increases.

The more the workers want,and the more the union rep's think they can get,the more the companies want in return.

This is American commerce after all free enterprise isn't really free.
Click to expand...
Yeah, just a part of negotiation... Your last statement spoke volumes about how corporate America really operates...
Everyone on the darkside is a bit fearful but we're gonna fight the good fight. It's only a shame that we can't get the rest of our freight brethren to see the light and come together, as a unified body, and demand what we are due for what we do. There is strength in numbers! Imagine what this industry would be like today if we were all just one big collective? Man, we'd be living in the same neighborhood as the big boss lived in!... I'm straying, I digress...

HH,
I'd say you're absolutely correct. I remember in the mid 80's the rumor was floated around that the Companies wanted to be able to use a road driver on the dock or in the city/yard when he arrived home on an 8 hour mini to make him earn all 8. In the 1994 negotiations they threw out the part timer thing.....when in reality they wanted, and were allowed, to almost double the rail freight. I've never been told this officially, but I firmly believe that in the 2003 negotiations the Companies put it this way......we'll give you guys raises and continue to pay for all of the H&W and pension but we'll need more favorable grievance decisions due to competition with Companies who are able to dictate just what their employees are going to do at any time. This time around might also see a serious crackdown on absenteeism. I like to think that it won't be too bad but we'll all have to wait and see.
Click to expand...
stldude, I remember it all. Even though I was in & out of IBT during those times (still in my craft and still union, IBT, RWDSU/UFCW) I stayed abreast of what was happening thru friends and family that was still involved in freight... And for as long as I've been around this, that's the justification that I use to say to these posters around here that it's all just posturing by these companies to sway opinion and support. I know what the score is right now. But we cannot let that be the dominating factor going into these negotiations. I believe what you said about the '03 contract. I became a Steward over here shortly after the '03 contract was ratified. Yeah, we had to play some serious hardball for a while on disciplinary cases. And the co. did take a harder line on suspension/discharge cases for a while. But they cooled after a short time (after the big IBT announcement about h/w/p happenings)... So yes, you and Apostolic are exactly right basically, it's all give & take...

I recently received notice from my local that freight contract discussion/suggestion sessions were coming up soon, here in ATL. I urge all members everywhere to attend these called meetings and bring your prepared notes for discussion/suggestions and proposals. Your input counts! Be there! If you do not receive notice soon, contact your BA and ask/demand a called freight meeting about your NMFA!... Expiration date is April 1, 2008. It's coming fast... Let's all be ready...
 
you guys remember when the hostal takeover attemp of abf was saved when all abf employees sold our stock back only to the company. abf borrowed money from a bank like firm that put abf in debt of millions of dollars only to have abf come to the emplyees and ask for a giveback and we were told if they did not get the giveback abf could not compete with the other companys and would go out of business. the giveback was turned down by 98 percent of the emloyees and they survived. having worked for a few other companys beside abf I have to say abf has the best drivers in the country. all we need is good leaders to lead us and we will survive
 
Yes sir I went through a payroll give back at my last fultime union LTTL trucking company,1985 to 1986.
I was number two over all in my terminal.
I had just shy of 18 years with them.
They asked for a 15% pay cut to keep their operation going.
This was at Hall's Motor Transit.
Well 93% of the intire company gave them what they wanted.
We the foolish money lenders wanted our company to make it so we could keep working for them.
The Teamsters said we could do the give back for one year,then we should get our loan paid back,as well as a rectroactive raise we had coming.
Oh my 10 months passed the company did a complete turn around,and was in the black making a profit.
The Teamsters officials started leanning on them to set a date for our pay back.
The company claimed all of our money was collecting interest in a bank account waiting for the big day to take care of their kind workers for their generious loan.
Well maybe not in those words,seeing I'm being very sarcastic.
The company closed their doors,with the higher ups running away with all of our money three days before the payback due date.

So as for me never again,if the company I work for needs my money so bad they can't make it,well then go under,and get it over with.
So all of us workers can just move on with our lives.
 
HiwayHombre said:
Yeah, they've been singin' that same song over here for a long time. The weapon of choice for Yellow right now (from my vantage point) is letting the linehaul linger on the clock waiting for freight to close at the dock and keeping the yard busy with meaningless re-hooks and BS work while scheduled departures set on the ready line strung and waiting on power (with power available and ready in the corral), etc... Freight runs late, service missed... Ten will get you twenty that they will throw the paid wait time/lost revenue (due to poor service) figures on the table for justification...

The pension talk (in freight) is just a fart in a whirlwind when compared to what they really want...
Click to expand...

i think you are right about that as far as the pension thing being a fart in the wind

i think the company mentality as far as negotiations are concerned is the simple logic of "throwin all the ::shit:: at the wall and let's see what sticks"
if you don't ask for them (concessions) you can't get them

i just hope our teamster leaders have more and show more savy this time around then they have shown in the past:butt kiss: :toxic: :nutkick:
 
stldude44 said:
Also, for what it's worth, the Companies are the ones pushing for a quick settlement in the 2008 agreement which puts us at somewhat of an advantage right from the start.
Click to expand...

stldude :1036316054:

I was just wondering if you spent more than 5 minutes thinking as to why the "companies" are pushing so hard for a quick settlement???
Could it be that the customers (shippers) are the ones pushing the union LTL companies to find a quick settlement before they have to hedge their bets and sign long term (1 to 3 year) contracts with non-union carriers. These non-union carriers already have told these shippers that they are not going to bother hauling their freight for a temporary period.
So the more freight these shippers have to divert for their own protection the more drivers could stay laid-off for a very long time.

:smilie_132:
 
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