Why Should They!

[ABFer]

Now that is what I mean about how we have to clean house when and where it is needed.

House cleanings are a necessary part of life and our union is not exempt. All in all while I see plenty of room for improvement I am, however endlessly grateful that I do have a contract which is worth more than I pay for it. There are many work rules that are adhered to by management, I can pretty well tell if I am getting fired for what I have done and I know that being the bosses :buttkiss: will not be the deciding factor. I know when I am getting a raise and how much it will be. I know what my health care costs will be (none) and I know that there are regular contributions into my retirement plan that the company cannot rescind. I know how much vacation I get and how and when I will pick it.

This is just the beginning of why I am happy to pay dues for the contract I receive.

[Joe the plumber]

All this good stuff is on the line come the contract. If YRC fails and/or does not come back fairly strong..slash cuts may be in the cards. Unionized freight is on the line

[Muler]

All this good stuff is on the line come the contract. If YRC fails and/or does not come back fairly strong..slash cuts may be in the cards. Unionized freight is on the line

yrc is yrc we are ABF and we don't follow the same coarse. We will deal with our up coming contract and you can keep a close eye on the yrc contract talks in 2015. That is like some people on different threads asking why should they join the union. I say if they are happy where they are and they can live with the rules stay there and be happy.
What strikes me as funny is they the ones that ask always bring up the current problems that may now exist.
They talk about our pension. They should worry about the defined pensions they don't have instead. We have funds with BILLIONS of dollars in them and they don't. So again I ask who should be more concerned?
Worst case we will receive 1200.00 or more if it fails and what will they get?
No they that try to push that agenda are barking up the wrong tree. When I see drivers other than them pulling their freight I wonder how they can sit by and watch their work move by someone other than them. That I find inexcusable. They have the right not to want to go union and I wish them Good Luck. But state facts not BS. But we will see I know I have a good pension coming and I have worked for it. Just because their company took their pension and they did not have a chance to vote on it is not the unions fault. Hows that going? Oh and that's right they also had their pay cut without a vote.
So as you can see I would not be worrying about the Teamsters. Look no farther than your own company. YOUR BROTHER ALWAYS!

[highspeeds]

All this good stuff is on the line come the contract. If YRC fails and/or does not come back fairly strong..slash cuts may be in the cards. Unionized freight is on the line

I love the way some people think. If you are in a union right now. Everyone else in a union is your problem and effects you. The unions are under so much attack. And losing the fight. Yesterday it was Frank's job. Today it's Steve's job. Tomorrow it will be yours. I guess the divide and conquer is working after all.

[Joe the plumber]

Why Should They!

When I visit the various other sites the one subject that really gets the most response is union VS nonunion.
So I just had to start a thread that addressed that subject. Now first off make no mistake I am and will always be a Teamster.
Now be honest. After all look at our Brothers and Sisters at YRC. this is not a slam on them. It is just a comparison of what the companies can do when applying pressure to force their will on their employees. They were told vote yes or we will close the doors.
There were no figures that showed them the exact financial condition of yrc. They were forced into accepting the company for their word.
Now they for the most part went below some non union carriers in wages and even in the money that the companies put into some type of retirement plan.
They even had their contract reopened and their work rules changed.
All this to make sure their families had a pay check coming in to support them. Were they wrong? Well who are we to say. Only they themselves know how they feel.

That was inspiring like the man said Muler, but we already know the value of the teamsters union. Things went well for decades. There was a financial collapse on Wall St that dealt the Funds a severe setback like they never had before. The YRC buy-outs got caught in the middle of it all. Just so you'll know the IBT and Fund lawyers were allowed to look at the books. There was no doubt in their minds that YRC would collapse if they were forced to make pension payments or not allowed concessions. Hello, were you there? Do you read? over!! Talk about stating facts..not bs. ABF would not allow the IBT to examine the books. What does that say?

yrc is yrc we are ABF and we don't follow the same coarse. We will deal with our up coming contract and you can keep a close eye on the yrc contract talks in 2015. We have funds with BILLIONS of dollars in them and they don't. Good Luck. But state facts not BS. But we will see I know I have a good pension coming and I have worked for it.
So as you can see I would not be worrying about the Teamsters. Look no farther than your own company. YOUR BROTHER ALWAYS!

ABF the company is like any other large corporation. They are only concerned with labor costs..not people. ABF the company tried to wiggle out of the NMFA. That we know. ABF the company complained vehemently to the union about the unfair cost advantages YRC was given. The IBT tried to level the playing field but was shot down by the ABF teamster vote. So ABF the Company went to court to ask the court to do ABF's dirty work.like deal with it next contract the court is saying. Contract time is near. Let ABF the company come to plate, state their case and make it happen. Does ABF the company have the guts to do this? We shall see. If not they should shut up and stop the whining

[Muler]

That was inspiring like the man said Muler, but we already know the value of the teamsters union. Things went well for decades. There was a financial collapse on Wall St that dealt the Funds a severe setback like they never had before. The YRC buy-outs got caught in the middle of it all. Just so you'll know the IBT and Fund lawyers were allowed to look at the books. There was no doubt in their minds that YRC would collapse if they were forced to make pension payments or not allowed concessions. Hello, were you there? Do you read? over!! Talk about stating facts..not bs. ABF would not allow the IBT to examine the books. What does that say?


ABF the company is like any other large corporation. They are only concerned with labor costs..not people. ABF the company tried to wiggle out of the NMFA. That we know. ABF the company complained vehemently to the union about the unfair cost advantages YRC was given. The IBT tried to level the playing field but was shot down by the ABF teamster vote. So ABF the Company went to court to ask the court to do ABF's dirty work.like deal with it next contract the court is saying. Contract time is near. Let ABF the company come to plate, state their case and make it happen. Does ABF the company have the guts to do this? We shall see. If not they should shut up and stop the whining

Hey Joe the IBT said they saw the books at ABF did you not see all the IBT mailings we posted during that time. So if you believe what Tyson say's then you live with his word. We the ABF Teamsters gathered the true numbers and voted accordingly. You don't even have a clue what yrc does or doesn't have. Tyson said we would be gone in a few months if we did not give back. How did that go? No you are and will always be a follower and if that makes you happy go for it. And for the Wall St. mess all the trucking companies suffered not just the union companies. No yrc was and is mismanaged and that is the problem. We operated at 89 at my terminal paying full rate and benefits so we know it can be done. My terminal has been in the low 90's and high 80's for a long time now. And please show me where your name appears in the contract that ABF and the Teamsters have. If not I will assume you were not present during talks and therefore you have NO PROOF as to what you say on the matter. The courts will decide that matter not you. I have not heard ABF whine they just put their money(NOT BORROWED) up to prove a wrong was done. I really enjoy seeing you always bring that up so I know it really eats at you. WHO SLIMMED OUT OF THE CONTRACT?

[Muler]

I love the way some people think. If you are in a union right now. Everyone else in a union is your problem and effects you. The unions are under so much attack. And losing the fight. Yesterday it was Frank's job. Today it's Steve's job. Tomorrow it will be yours. I guess the divide and conquer is working after all.

Who has people pulling their loads out while your drivers sit. I know several drivers from your company and they tell of the truck load drivers coming in and pulling their work all the time. Speaking of divided. Drivers were laid off and after the time period they were brought back as new hires at your company. Does that sound like a good deal? Drivers being sent home after just a few hours and then told to come back in later to work the dock to finish out their time. Now I ask does that sound like a good deal? No we are not divided we just are not afraid to say what we think out of fear of being fired. I have been at the same company(they bought CAROLINA) my entire career. I have not missed one day due to lay off. I am entitled to $3500.00 a month next August. I have no medical bills due to a great health and welfare plan courtesy of my company and my union. So when you speak bad about my union I ask what do you have that is BETTER? Post your retirement that your company offers and their medical plan. I don't get angry when you talk about something you know nothing about I find it comical. What I find sad also about your post is you bust joe's butt and he did not even know it.(HIS MEDS ARE OFF) so cut him some slack.

[Puff Driver]

Why Should They!

When I visit the various other sites the one subject that really gets the most response is union VS nonunion.
So I just had to start a thread that addressed that subject. Now first off make no mistake I am and will always be a Teamster.

The comment of dues paying always brings a large following. I pay $61.00 a month. For that I have a pension and health coverage addressed in the contract that the Teamsters negotiate for me. I don't have to pay for my health premium policy the company does that.

I am as of today when I reach age 57 entitled to a $3300.00 a month pension because the Teamsters negotiated that cost into my contract.

I drive a tractor that is safe and meets all local, state and federal requirements. I also have added benefits such as interior dimensions and a mandatory replacement of any and all suspension parts that need replaced for my comfort. All this due to my Teamster contract.

I have a grievance procedure in place for when there is a disagreement with my management. I have a contract that shows my wage and it's progression for the life of the contract.

I have an army of over 1 million Brothers and Sisters to assist me if and when the time comes. That also means a voice in the political arena due to my Brotherhood.

But when I read the post of some trying to convince the non union Brothers to become union I can see why it is met with a great deal of resistance.
None of us like to have something crammed down our throats. Nobody likes to read how dumb someone thinks they might be because they are not union.
Not everybody that preaches the union started with a company that was non union and then voted a union in.
You see if you worked today for a non union company would you have the courage to stand up front and proclaim your desire to have union representation?

Now be honest. After all look at our Brothers and Sisters at YRC. this is not a slam on them. It is just a comparison of what the companies can do when applying pressure to force their will on their employees. They were told vote yes or we will close the doors.
There were no figures that showed them the exact financial condition of yrc. They were forced into accepting the company for their word.
Now they for the most part went below some non union carriers in wages and even in the money that the companies put into some type of retirement plan.
They even had their contract reopened and their work rules changed.

All this to make sure their families had a pay check coming in to support them. Were they wrong? Well who are we to say. Only they themselves know how they feel.

But now imagine you are working at one of the big non union trucking company's and you know that if they catch wind you are thinking of voting for union representation you will be FIRED would you be so BRAVE?

If you were them and you see what is going on in the union trucking would you be trying to go union?

I think many if they were being truthful would answer NO to that question.

What I am trying to say is the union has to offer a better product. We all know that many locals lack in their quest to see that the companies follow the contract.
After all were do you think the saying" Be glad you have a job" comes from?

What non union drivers see and hear is Teamsters talking about what we really experience and it is not a pretty picture to them. Do we have it better than most of them? HELL YES! Are we in a perfect situation? HELL NO!

But we can not blame them for their impression of our union. And only we can change it.

This union belongs to us. We are the Teamsters not just the elected officials. They are there because of our voting and in many cases our lack of voting.
When the non union drivers see that only 18% of all Teamsters voted in the election for the President of all Teamsters that speaks volumes about the state of the Teamsters.
No we have to do something to change the union. We are to blame for the mess it is in. I hear people complain about Hoffa all the time but I did not see it in the election results. Has Hoffa done a good job? Well we all have an opinion on that matter. BUT 82% of all Teamsters did not vote on whether or not Hoffa was doing a good or bad job. They did not CARE!

WOULD YOU JOIN A GROUP WHERE 82% OF THE MEMBERS DID NOT GIVE A RATS ASS ABOUT IT?

Let's change that view of us. Let's get involved and make our officials do as we the majority want not as they want. I see many that won't stand up to their own BA. And believe me when I say the companies see that also.

Well if you have read down this far you have just witnessed a Muler Moment. YOUR JUST CALLING THEM AS I SEE THEM BROTHER ALWAYS!

If you drive a safe tractor it may not be a unon job,most have garbnage for equipment
That has been true for years.

Plus most teamster pensions are in the Red Zone, if they are you may colect for a while but it will end. Plus once YRC bites the dust even more people will try to colect pensions thus putting more pressure on the already underfunded system.

Now we see ABF starting to struggle too. We have seen this movie before....

It will collapse on itself soon....There is no teasmster leadership to take control so it will all end soon.

[Roadrunner73]

Puff, how's that pension you provide your employees making out? Did you manage to avoid the bad investments through the years?

[Joe the plumber]

Hey Joe the IBT said they saw the books at ABF did you not see all the IBT mailings we posted during that time. So if you believe what Tyson say's then you live with his word. We the ABF Teamsters gathered the true numbers and voted accordingly. You don't even have a clue what yrc does or doesn't have. Tyson said we would be gone in a few months if we did not give back. How did that go? No you are and will always be a follower and if that makes you happy go for it. And for the Wall St. mess all the trucking companies suffered not just the union companies. No yrc was and is mismanaged and that is the problem. We operated at 89 at my terminal paying full rate and benefits so we know it can be done. My terminal has been in the low 90's and high 80's for a long time now. And please show me where your name appears in the contract that ABF and the Teamsters have. If not I will assume you were not present during talks and therefore you have NO PROOF as to what you say on the matter. The courts will decide that matter not you. I have not heard ABF whine they just put their money(NOT BORROWED) up to prove a wrong was done. I really enjoy seeing you always bring that up so I know it really eats at you. WHO SLIMMED OUT OF THE CONTRACT?

No doubt ABF is in much better shape then YRC financially. The only problem is ABF is not that happy about being the high cost carrier that they are. ABF is not making the money they should be making. It's scaring the goats in the stock market. It's ABF's turn at bat like I said. They must know the ABF teamsters won't budge on concessions. It does look like a confrontation may be looming down the road. I know you're going out with the lead pack to put them down. Let's get it on!!