2631,
You won't hear me disputing what you've said. I've been saying it for years now. We won't see another freight strike for the very reasons you mention. It's too risky for both sides. The non Union Companies have grown a lot in the last 8 or 10 years due to people willing to accept from a little less to a lot less in wages and benefits and definitely a lot less in working conditions. That's the reality of it. We'll get some of what we want and so will the Companies and life will go on. I, like many, used to be a whole lot more idealistic when it came to these matters....but faced with today's situation I've become more realistic. Things just aren't like they used to be, unfortunately.

it's sad because a good NMFA also benefits the non's, but a strike would also benefit them with increased business.
this is my last contract and would not want to go backward any farther then we have. we need good strong and enforceable language to protect our rights.

I also do not want to strike, but I will in a New York second to stand my ground, and not settle for a sub-standard contract based on fears that that the non-union companies will benefit. This long time propaganda attitude has been played out by management for too long. A recent article in Traffic World magazine stated that YRCW controls 28% of the whole LTL market in the U.S. and that is not chump change to an investor. The whole YRCW family of companies and their investors are more scared of a strike than the union members should be. Even a 10% loss of customer base from a 10 billion dollar corp. is significant. Every union member should look at the situation as being in their favor not YRCW Corp.
With Yellow, Roadway, New Penn, Holland, some Bestway and Reddaway being union companies, YRCW Corp. should be running scared. Don't fall into the corporate trap of being fearful of a strike. We should be more informative, of letting those who are ignorant of being a union member, by standing up for good contracts and showing these people this is what you too can have.

I do not post often, but I read alot of posts on this site. I have been coming here for a long time. I was originally a member of Freighthauler.com way back when, been through a couple of crashes, too.
A little about me, I have worked over the years for some small mom and pop outfits pulling tankers or flat beds and these freight companies -- Overnite, Preston, Red Star(twice),American Freightways(Fedex Freight), and am currently with Yellow.

I must say with 2008 coming up, "We are so far behind the times, it's pathetic". When I started pulling pups in 1982, we got a penny difference. That penny is worth at least a nickel today, but we still only get a penny. Why is it that those who negotiate our contract do not make that penny grow with inflation. Also, as union members, we should have on the table, a mileage differential in pay when pulling any Hazmat based on credentials and having to pay for our own finger print and background checks.
If you pay attention to up coming legislation and proposals to federal size and weight limits, you will realize longer and heavier trucks will be here soon. That means more turnpike doubles, triples, rocky mountain doubles, etc...
We need to increase the differential in pay for multiple trailers and Hazmat in 2008.

How 'bout some real differential for our remaining Mechanics. It's a real shame that they receive a paltry 19 cent pay differential but have to tote the note on thousands of dollars worth of tools and equipment in order to do their job versus a 5.00 investment a city/dock man has invested in a pair of gloves... (And before any of you start knocking the Mechanics for the sad shape of this equipment, remember this, we do have some good Mechanics in the system. It's shame on us, the drivers, for marking that od-199 or m-11 book "ok" as we're hurrying to get out of that truck when we hit the yard and shame on these penny pinching shop managers and companies for passing write-ups and work orders in order to show good performance levels and numbers to justify themselves and boost their bonuses)...

There are many suggestions to throw out here but this isn't exactly the thread for that. Strike vote? That's premature right now. TMI is posturing right now, trying to set the scene with all the "hard times" talk. Let's see what the line is gonna be before we clinch our fists...

it's good to see this thread is getting people to think some more about the contract. remember it will be "united we stand or divided we fall".
as far as the strike vote, no it will probably never get that far, but seeing as management does look at truckingboards I hope they will see dedicated and united Teamsters looking out for OUR futures.