Teamsters, ABF Grapple with Detailed Economics

The Teamsters National Freight Industry Negotiating Committee (TNFINC) and ABF Freight System began discussing wages and benefits this week and the Teamsters remain committed to fighting hard to protect members’ interests.

The current 2013-2018 contract expires at the end of this month. After several weeks of progress on language issues, the inevitable topic of pay and benefits has now been formally opened. As expected at this stage, the parties appear far apart, but the union is committed to fighting hard to maintain the current structure of health care and retirement benefits that are extremely important to the membership. The union also made clear to the company that it believes the robust economic environment for trucking services that has improved over the past year, along with the demand for seasoned drivers and the valued services of all ABF Teamsters, should be reflected in any economic settlement.

The company did not provide an immediate counter offer and instead is taking time to study the union’s economic proposal. Nevertheless, the parties continued working to address some outstanding language issues as well as some supplemental issues.

“I would have liked more back and forth this week in terms of economic discussions but I hope the company takes the next several days to appreciate the important contributions that all Teamsters make to the long-term success of this company,” said Ernie Soehl, Co-Chairman of TNFINC and the union’s lead negotiator. “We will have small group meetings next week to better analyze each party’s positions, and then fully resume talks on March 26 with the goal of reaching a new agreement by the month’s end.”

Members of the National Negotiating Committee also took time this week to visit the ABF Kansas City terminal and speak directly with members.

“Our ABF membership is an outstanding group of freight Teamsters who value both the company’s historic success and the Teamster’s role in making that happen,” Soehl said. “One thing was made clear: they really expect ABF to step up and do the right thing during these difficult contract negotiations.

We are now in the most difficult phase of these important talks but remain united and committed as a bargaining team to reaching a tentative agreement that meets both the goals of the membership while also allowing the company to maintain and grow its successful position in the trucking industry. The continued support of the membership over the next couple of weeks will be absolutely critical toward the positive and successful resolution of these talks,” Soehl said.

Top ABF Freight Drivers Earn Recognition on Road Team

ArcBest is pleased to announce that its less-than-truckload carrier ABF Freight has chosen 12 professional drivers for the 2018-2019 ABF Freight Road Team.

Members of the 2018-2019 ABF Freight Road Team and their service centers are: Scotty Davis, Kansas City, Missouri; Scott Scheuffele, Ontario, Oregon; Brian Petrovcic, North Lima, Ohio; Todd Wilemon, Tupelo, Mississippi; Matt Meadows, Charleston, West Virginia; Allen McNeely, Charlotte, North Carolina; Jimmy Smith, Roanoke, Virginia; Sammy Brewster, Atlanta, Georgia; Eric Patterson, Phoenix, Arizona; Don Wood, Albuquerque, New Mexico; Jon Herman, Kansas City, Missouri; and Russ Lauver, Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

“We are proud to have these exceptional representatives among the ranks of ABF Freight’s professional drivers,” said Mark McMinn, ABF Freight senior vice president of Operations and Safety. “Each Road Team member has superb driving skills and an outstanding safety record. Their commitment to our customers’ goods, as well as their commitment to the safety of the driving public, makes them excellent ambassadors to represent ABF Freight and the trucking industry.”

To be eligible for the ABF Freight Road Team, candidates must have at least 10 years of driving experience and an exemplary driving record. Road Team membership is one of the highest honors an ABF Freight driver can achieve.

“With drivers like these, it’s no wonder why ABF Freight has been a trusted partner our customers have depended on for over 95 years,” McMinn said.

During two-year terms, ABF Freight Road Team members serve as ambassadors for ABF Freight as well as the trucking industry at large. They are available for speaking engagements at civic and fraternal organizations, school events, career days and other events around the country. When called upon, Road Team members speak about driving safety, the image of the truck driver, sharing the road with trucks, or other subjects of community or industry interest.

YRC Freight Driver Bobby Elrod Reaches Safety Achievement of 5-Million Accident-Free Miles

In his 45-year career with YRC Freight, Bobby Elrod has reached the elite safety milestone of driving five-million consecutive miles without a single accident. The company will recognize his safety record with an event at 10 a.m., on March 6, at its Chattanooga terminal.

In honor of Elrod's achievement, he will be welcomed into the company's five-million miler Driver Hall of Fame. YRC Freight will also donate 50 children's car seats to the Tennessee Highway Patrol--one for every 100,000 miles he has driven without a single accident.

"Bobby is a true professional with a genuine dedication to the safety of the motoring public. Each day he demonstrates self-discipline, constant focus and commitment," says T.J. O'Connor, YRC Freight president. "We are introducing a new trailer wrapped in his honor to showcase his great safety accomplishment. Here at YRC Freight, we couldn't be prouder of his five-million miles driven over four and a half decades without a single accident."

Elrod observed, "I've driven out of Nashville, Knoxville and Chattanooga at different times for the company. I was proud to be the first Smith System instructor in Nashville and train our drivers. I always put safety first. I came from a family of truck drivers--my dad, two uncles, a brother, and a brother-in-law--they were all truck drivers. It's in my blood. I was only nine or ten when my dad passed away. Not that long ago, I went out to the cemetery. I told my dad, ‘I've reached five million miles without an accident, Dad. Can you imagine?' It was a good moment. I've been blessed. I was able to put both my boys through college, and see them graduate without owing a penny. The company has been really good to me and my family."

"To put those miles in perspective, five million miles is like driving to the moon and back over ten times or driving around the equator 200 times--all without a single accident. I tip my safety hat to him, and I send my heartfelt thanks to his family for sharing Bobby with us," says Terry Budimlija, YRC Freight Safety Director.

A resident of Chickamauga, Ga., Elrod averages over 2,000 miles a week. He will be presented with a celebratory watch, die cast YRC Freight truck, plaque and a five-million miles accident-free commemorative jacket at the celebration.

Brown Briefs Teamsters, Union Members On Effort To Save Their Pensions

More than 100 Teamsters and other union retirees and active members crowded into a union hall in Canton Sunday morning to get an update from Sen. Sherrod Brown on what it may take to save their pensions. The crisis that could affect 60,000 Ohioans and a million-and-a-half workers and retirees.

Brown was appointed last week to co-chair an unusual joint committee of the House and Senate. By the end of the year, it’s charged with coming up with a way to restore the precarious finances of what are called multi-employer pensions for groups like the Teamsters, mineworkers and carpenters.

Brown has been pushing a fix called the Butch Lewis Act, which would provide a low-interest, 30-year loan to the pensions. Though the union hall was filled with Butch Lewis signs and shirts, Brown acknowledged uncertainty.

“I don’t have preconceived notions on what we end up with," Brown said. "I’d love to end up with Butch Lewis, I think that’s the best idea. But I also understand we’ve got to get five Republican and five Democratic votes.”

The 16-member committee is evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans. If it gets the bipartisan deal from at least 10 of them, the measure will go to the full House and Senate for a straight up-or-down vote.

Teamsters Call on Joint Select Committee to Move Quickly to Solve Pension Crisis

Millions of Active and Retired Workers Face Uncertain Future Without Legislative Fix


Following the announcement of the final members of Congress that will serve on the bipartisan, House-Senate Joint Select Committee on Solvency of Multiemployer Pension Plans tasked with finding a solution to the nation’s looming pension crisis, the Teamsters Union called for a commitment by the legislators to report a bill as soon as possible, and not wait until the November deadline.

The retirement security of as many as 1.5 million active and retired workers could be at risk if pension legislation is not passed soon. The committee, which is comprised of eight senators and eight members of the House evenly divided by party, will work toward reporting a bill to solve the pension crisis. The Teamsters Union supports the passage of the Butch Lewis Act of 2017 (H.R.4444/S.2147) which was introduced in Congress last November by Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Rep. Richard Neal (D-MA) and has received bipartisan support.

“Now that party leadership has appointed the members of Congress who will serve on the committee it is time to get to work,” said Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa. “Millions of active and retired workers can’t wait until November for this committee to act. We already have a strong piece of legislation already in Congress in the Butch Lewis Act and the Teamsters Union believes it offers the best solution to the pension crisis.”

Teamsters Continue Push for Improvements in Fourth Round of UPS and UPS Freight Negotiations

The Teamsters National UPS Negotiating Committee pushed for improvements on a variety of issues as the fourth round of contract negotiations with UPS and UPS Freight wrapped up today.

“We still believe it is early in the negotiations process and things are progressing. We are maintaining our stance on issues that members have indicated are the most important,” said Denis Taylor, Director of the Teamsters Package Division and Co-Chairman of the Teamsters National UPS Negotiating Committee.



The following issues were on the table this week:

Article 6   – Technology and Discipline;

Article 14 – Temporary Alternate Work;

Article 15 – Military Leave – spousal transfers;

Article 16 – Maternity Leave;

Article 17 – Paid For Time; dealing with members’ ability to review hours and rates of pay as well as confirmation and identification of grievance payments;

Article 18 – Building Heat and Distracted Drivers;

Article 29 – Funeral Leave;

Article 35 – Drug and Alcohol Testing;

Article 37 – Overtime; and,

Article 43 – Delay Time and Extensions and Diversions of Runs

“During UPS Freight national negotiations this week, we continued to make gains,” said Kris Taylor, Co-Chair of the Teamsters National UPS Freight Negotiating Committee. “In particular, Article 4: Stewards; Article 5: Seniority; Article 6: Discipline; Article 14: Military Clause; and, Article 37: Suspension or Revocation of License and Employee’s Bail.”

The next round of negotiations will take place March 19-22.

Teamsters Make Continued Progress at ABF Negotiations

This past week the Teamsters National Freight Industry Negotiating Committee (TNFINC) and ABF Freight resumed bargaining for a new national collective bargaining agreement, and the parties continued to make progress on issues important to members.

Representatives from the union and the company discussed the status and role of ABF within the ArcBest corporate family and had a positive dialogue concerning the future of ABF in the evolving transportation marketplace. The two sides also discussed various methods for growing work at ABF Freight and preserving Teamster jobs, and both sides also discussed equipment improvements.

Only a few issues remain unresolved in terms of the National ABF National Master Freight Agreement (NMFA) language articles. Both sides also had discussions on some supplemental agreements.   

Negotiations resume in Kansas City on March 12 where economics will likely be on the table as well as language in supplemental agreements. Prior to the next round of negotiations, the company will be sharing additional economic and business data with TNFINC’s economists.

“This week’s session was positive and productive,” said Ernie Soehl, Director of the Teamsters National Freight Division and Co-Chairman of TNFINC.  However, Soehl cautioned that “the upcoming economic discussions, including pension and health and welfare are likely going to be very difficult.”

Soehl reaffirmed that “TNFINC is 100 percent committed to getting the best possible contract” and that the union committee remains united and focused on addressing the membership’s objectives.