I have 25 years at yellow and a total of 31 years in local 992 voting no

If I can be so bold as to ask. When you say your voting "YES" or "NO", put your state in your post. It would be interesting to see what the sentiment is into relation as to area. I voted "NO" in Pennsylvania.

My opinion was formed by the review of not only the IBT proposal, and the TDU position of the issues, but include thoughts of an outside business professor whose per view is not clouded either way. The overall offer is good, providing, the entire program is implemented, in order to compete in the market of today. We cannot change what has already been posted into history books. However, we can, on simple terms, outsmart the non-union fox.

I never said that we should give in to the corporate greedy. I for one would never agree to that. Cooperation between union and company is what will secure our future. Regardless of our hard work and efforts, the top level always gets "theirs".

Contract intent is covered in US case law. The case that comes closest to mind at present, is the handshake agreement with a dairy products provider v. major fast food chain. The small vendor prevailed in a multi-million dollar jury settlement. Why? Because of the "intent of the unwritten agreement".

Haymarket Square is as much a part of labor history as the Boston Tea Party is to political history. They fought the fight for the common good of all. I am sure they did not always agree in essence, but did in theory. Under all the various conditions, including Allen Pinkerton and his army of thugs, working together they prevailed. More modern example and closer to home is the struggles of the early Teamsters. Who realized early on, that the way to prevail was to work smarter. In the words of long time International General President Daniel J. Tobin,

"any fool hot-headed agitator can bring about a strike, but it takes a real brainy man of courage to stop strikes and bring about better wages and working conditions for the membership and their families".

The difference between 20 or 30 years ago as compared to today? Leverage. We as Unionists have not the leverage needed to persuade companies to see everything the way we see it. Thirty years ago you had to "know somebody" to get one of these Teamster jobs. Our ranks have dwindled since and will further, if we allow ourselves to let history dictate the future. The future is the history that we are going to write, and we will. The outcomes we derive and write into the history books, is dependent on the vision of the future that we have today.

Having said that, noting the anti union anti worker labor laws that have been enacted both by legislation and adjudication in the last 20 or so years, we have to work smarter, by cooperating with management without suffering ourselves. In other words, since our colleagues that work for the non-unions refuse to join us, we have to beat them.

What ever the outcome of the poll is, I will stand by the decision of the rank and file brothers and sisters of this great Union, and I promise to fight the fight, for the greater good of all.

In solidarity,
Mikey

You are correct, they didn't have a contract, but if UPS had not bought them & their name was still Overnite, then I doubt that they would have been given a seperate contract. When we picketed the Overnite terminals it was with the intent of having them join the Teamsters under a NMFA contract & have their pension & welfare paid into our funds....The Overnite drivers that I knew wanted what we had......We can argue if they would have ever gotten a NMFA contract or not, but the reality is that the IBT negotiated with UPSF/Overnite a contract
that hurts the NMFA & the MEPF. Call them concessions, give backs or whatever you want but the bottom line is that they are doing the exact same freight work as YRC & ABF with an unfair advantage in workrules & labor costs........YRC & ABF told the IBT that they expected the same relief from the NMFA that UPSF got. We all knew this 15 months ago. Some of us felt that a UPSF stand alone contract would severely weaken the NMFA & the ability of the IBT to negotiate a good contract. IMO this is exactly what happened. YRC demanded relief from the NMFA & the IBT had no choice but to agree. I doubt that our negotiating team is thrilled with this contract, but I am sure that it was the best that they could do in order to allow the companies to compete.

IMO the UPSF contract, not the NMFA, will be the model in future contract negotiations with FedEx or in any other organizing drives.

IMO this is not a great contract & those of us at ABF still don't know what our contract will even look like. But I suggest that everyone take the time to read & understand the contract before voting.

Ahhh! My first post. As I can't listen to this anymore without voicing what you will come to find out is the voice of the silent majority. This is a decent contract, possibly even historical, but only time will bear that out. I am proud to vote YES.

I sure do enjoy this Mikey, Concerning the "Business Professor", I think you said where he stands just in his title. Marilyn Vos Savant (in the guiness book for highest IQ), stated that "you cannot give a true and impartial opinion unless you are truely separate from either side of the discussion". A business professor would not qualify because he would be looking from a business perspective. Not a labor perspective.That is why in some cases they use a member of the clergy. They have nothing to gain, only to glorify God in their decisions. And TDU, I do not trust a group that continuely finds fault with other people.
I really take exception to President Tobin, if it had not been for the ONE AND ONLY REAL President, James Riddle Hoffa, we would not be here without working smarter with a club in one hand and a thug working behind the scene's. I met the man that pushed my Dad's eyeball back in socket after one of the clubbing strikes. That's how this Union became strong. You can't sit down and talk to some of these corporate people.
As I said, Wait till this contract gets approved, (It will), the bonus's will be coming down the pike. I would also bet some money that their is a buyer out their waiting till our labor contract is over before the investment talks begin. Anyway, this will be my last contract and if this is what the membership wants, then "so be it".Have a good day.