Why a strike won't work for YOU

[Hawker]

As someone who has lived and worked in a union family for the better part of my life, I have even been a union steward, organizer and my mother was a negotiator for one of the top 3 airlines in the world. So, with that being said, I feel the need to chime in here...

First off, there is no way a "wildcat" strike would work. It takes unity and organization. To have unity, it would require the majority of drivers within each company, to vote in the union for their company. That gives you several things. One, is bargaining power. Bargaining power to make the nesessary changes (within reason), such as wages, insurance, retirement and working conditions. Another thing you would have, is the protection of the NLRB from being fired from your company if you could not come to a contract agreement which resulted in a vote to go on strike.

Why do you think that the drivers at LTL companies such as Yellow make such good money and have great benefits?

It is possible people, but the biggest problem I see is that the majority of truck drivers are too busy fighting among themselves to ever come together in agreement on something so monumental. But think about this. If the drivers of a large OTR company such as Werner were to vote in a union, and went to the bargaining table, with COMMON SENSE. They could come out with better pay and benefits. There is no way that a company of that size could contract out all of their freight if every truck is parked. It would be in the companies best interest anyway, because happy drivers, are motivated drivers, dependable drivers and loyal drivers.

As far as other drivers coming in and taking jobs if there ever was a strike. I have to disagree. There is a reason that there are so many CDL mills out there. It's because of the fact that in all reality, the trucking lifestyle isn't for everyone. Sure, it looks good at first, but there are a LOT of people who jump into trucking, thinking that it is a way to easily make decent money, or they could be like me. I was making good money and was in between jobs and didn't have the option to move to where I could work in my trade (aircraft mechanic), so I went to a CDL mill, got my license and went driving until something came along in my field, where my family is. If there was a nationwide drivers strike tomorrow and I could make $1 a mile, I wouldn't trade what I have now, for that. At this point in time in my life, my CDL is only a safety net...

One more thing for you folks to remember. If there was a strike, it's not like the companies could just bring in every Tom, Dick and Harry from the schools or off the street that hasn't driven in years. The insurance companies hold the trump cards on who they deem qualified to drive OTR, and that is one thing that would work in your favor.

[Ronnocomot]

A simpler way would be for people to stop hiring on at companies that are known abusers of drivers.

Nobody puts a gun to your head to make you work for C.R. England, Swift, Werner or all the other crappy companies out there. With the continual stream of people they get through the door, they have no incentive to change.

That's why this site is so valuable, if only people would heed the advice here, many drivers, or wannabe's could be saved a lot of hassle.

Too many people think, "Well, I read all that stuff on truckersreport.com. but It'll be different for me".

We've seen the consequences of this too many times to count.

[Lucky142]

Originally Posted by Truckerjo

Well A have always said no need to park the trucks and strike but all we would need to do is "SLOW DOWN TO THE MIN SPEED ALLOWED IN THAT STATE" for about a week...

Picture this....
We all know what happens when people begin to rubber neck no matter if it is in the city or open interstate... WE ALL pretty much come to a stop...
Thus slowing everybody down... This way "every trucker" can participate and not lose their job and still make enough money to make do for the week (or two)... Company may yell a little at ya but what can you do if that's the fastest you can go because everybody else is going that speed..

Freight would be late thus making shelves get empty... ext... Not to mention every city in America would have a huge problem with people being late for work...

Simply keep this up and we would get noticed that we are not going to take it anymore and they need to start opening their eyes...

Far as people who do not drive that have cdl's... well for one they would have to quit their jobs to drive a truck.. most companies still require current experience... (insurance reason and the insurance company is not going to cut them any slack...) They would have to pay them more then what they are currently paying us because well they left the trucking industry for some reason already correct?

I agree that a slow down would put a kink in the shorts of many freight managers, but then, how many will even get involved in a slow down when they are too worried about making ends meet?

Without leadership and control, to convince the majority of what needs to be done, there will always be far too many who will not participate in anything.

Does not matter if it is Trucking or MLM' businesses where millionaires are self made every year. People are not hungry enough until they get beyond hungry and into starvation. By then its too late to help them.

I went along with every strike when i was on the road. It did not matter that I thought it a waste of time; I felt it was worth the effort.

Thanks for the reminder.

[Lucky142]

Originally Posted by Ronnocomot

A simpler way would be for people to stop hiring on at companies that are known abusers of drivers.

Nobody puts a gun to your head to make you work for C.R. England, Swift, Werner or all the other crappy companies out there. With the continual stream of people they get through the door, they have no incentive to change.

That's why this site is so valuable, if only people would heed the advice here, many drivers, or wannabe's could be saved a lot of hassle.

Too many people think, "Well, I read all that stuff on truckersreport.com. but It'll be different for me".

We've seen the consequences of this too many times to count.

Yep! Stop working for the bad companies. Trouble is most of them are not worth working for and far too many school graduates looking the income to pay off their training. However, you are right about the worst of the worst, but I don't see this as a way to solve the problems of the industry or the driver. Collective Bargaining through a Union would make a bunch of people sit up and pay attention.

[Lucky142]

Originally Posted by Hawker

As someone who has lived and worked in a union family for the better part of my life, I have even been a union steward, organizer and my mother was a negotiator for one of the top 3 airlines in the world. So, with that being said, I feel the need to chime in here...

First off, there is no way a "wildcat" strike would work. It takes unity and organization. To have unity, it would require the majority of drivers within each company, to vote in the union for their company. That gives you several things. One, is bargaining power. Bargaining power to make the nesessary changes (within reason), such as wages, insurance, retirement and working conditions. Another thing you would have, is the protection of the NLRB from being fired from your company if you could not come to a contract agreement which resulted in a vote to go on strike.

Why do you think that the drivers at LTL companies such as Yellow make such good money and have great benefits?

It is possible people, but the biggest problem I see is that the majority of truck drivers are too busy fighting among themselves to ever come together in agreement on something so monumental. But think about this. If the drivers of a large OTR company such as Werner were to vote in a union, and went to the bargaining table, with COMMON SENSE. They could come out with better pay and benefits. There is no way that a company of that size could contract out all of their freight if every truck is parked. It would be in the companies best interest anyway, because happy drivers, are motivated drivers, dependable drivers and loyal drivers.

As far as other drivers coming in and taking jobs if there ever was a strike. I have to disagree. There is a reason that there are so many CDL mills out there. It's because of the fact that in all reality, the trucking lifestyle isn't for everyone. Sure, it looks good at first, but there are a LOT of people who jump into trucking, thinking that it is a way to easily make decent money, or they could be like me. I was making good money and was in between jobs and didn't have the option to move to where I could work in my trade (aircraft mechanic), so I went to a CDL mill, got my license and went driving until something came along in my field, where my family is. If there was a nationwide drivers strike tomorrow and I could make $1 a mile, I wouldn't trade what I have now, for that. At this point in time in my life, my CDL is only a safety net...

One more thing for you folks to remember. If there was a strike, it's not like the companies could just bring in every Tom, Dick and Harry from the schools or off the street that hasn't driven in years. The insurance companies hold the trump cards on who they deem qualified to drive OTR, and that is one thing that would work in your favor.

You are right on the button:

The fact so many are in-fighting does not stop the progression of movement toward organization. Jimmy Hoffa started organizing in the same manner; no support to some support to industry support.

There is no other way to ever get this industry back in line with decent income and benefits other than Organization. Unfortunately, there are many in powerful positions that do not want this to happen. Thus, it is totally up to the drivers in the industry to make it happen if they want it.

[Lucky142]

Originally Posted by Carolina_Beaver_Teaser

CF wasn't strangled by the union, go back and look, the profits were taken from CF and put into the companies NON Union outfit, Con - Way. Draining the company, and then they were kinda caught with their pants down, after Enron, when the FTC made all publicly traded companies disclose all financials.
Very, sad. Kinda miss seeing ole corn flake out there, they had a bunch of good truckers!!

Yep, when I was just a pup, traveling with my parents I remember all the Corn Flakers out across country. Now, I am just an old dog laying in my easy chair wishin and thinkin how wonderful it was to be out across country. Black smoke a blowin over 18 wheels; home sweet home! Lots of the old labels off the road now and it won't get any better unless drivers make it get better.

[Lucky142]

Originally Posted by Jarlaxle

A truckers' strike could be construed as a criminal act under the RICo statutes, in that it would be an organized attempt to disrupt the economy.

And Slavery was abolished under the 17th Amendment. In other words it takes back bone to stand up and fight for what is right. Cost of Living/Cost of Operation/Cost of Retirement and who's really making it today besides some who are too blind to see where they are really going?

How many people are solvent; totally out of debt with great incomes in this country today? Give me a percentage? 95% failure rate according to the US Department of Labor.

Anyone have the right to work for a decent living? After all it is a contract between individuals and companies and the contract centers around your life that you will be selling for the income you bargain for.

Visit your nearest Teamsters and ask them what could happen if people started to organize! Some in this country don't want you to organize but it is your life.

[n4mgr]

Originally Posted by Lucky142

And Slavery was abolished under the 17th Amendment. In other words it takes back bone to stand up and fight for what is right.

Visit your nearest Teamsters and ask them what could happen if people started to organize! Some in this country don't want you to organize but it is your life.

Amen, There is entirely too much misinformation regarding Unions floating around. Especially in the south, which is traditionally anti-union. There needs to be an education campaign by the unions(should be lead and financed by AFL-CIO) targeting the trucking industry. Clear the air as to what the unions are all about, what the benefits are, what people stand to gain by joining a union. I have said this for years now. With a collective bargaining agreement in place just imagine how much better you would be treated by the company you work for. Right now you are expendable. You are a commodity to be traded and used. You are a machine, a number that can be discarded at any moment. It is time to UNITE and fight against the veritable slavery that we find ourselves in today. We can accomplish NOTHING as one, but together we can accomplish much.

[Lucky142]

Originally Posted by n4mgr

Amen, There is entirely too much misinformation regarding Unions floating around. Especially in the south, which is traditionally anti-union. There needs to be an education campaign by the unions(should be lead and financed by AFL-CIO) targeting the trucking industry. Clear the air as to what the unions are all about, what the benefits are, what people stand to gain by joining a union. I have said this for years now. With a collective bargaining agreement in place just imagine how much better you would be treated by the company you work for. Right now you are expendable. You are a commodity to be traded and used. You are a machine, a number that can be discarded at any moment. It is time to UNITE and fight against the veritable slavery that we find ourselves in today. We can accomplish NOTHING as one, but together we can accomplish much.

Here it is Ladies and Gentlemen of the road: When you accept "Authority as Truth", you have given up your right to live. However, when you demand "Truth as the Authority" you have a chance to survive in this world.

Big Government and Big Business have only one thing in mind, "Their Profits and what works best for them!" They don't give a hoot about what you need. FREEDOM IS NEVER FREE!

[Lucky142]

Originally Posted by n4mgr

Amen, There is entirely too much misinformation regarding Unions floating around. Especially in the south, which is traditionally anti-union. There needs to be an education campaign by the unions(should be lead and financed by AFL-CIO) targeting the trucking industry. Clear the air as to what the unions are all about, what the benefits are, what people stand to gain by joining a union. I have said this for years now. With a collective bargaining agreement in place just imagine how much better you would be treated by the company you work for. Right now you are expendable. You are a commodity to be traded and used. You are a machine, a number that can be discarded at any moment. It is time to UNITE and fight against the veritable slavery that we find ourselves in today. We can accomplish NOTHING as one, but together we can accomplish much.

TOGETHER WE STAND - DIVIDED WE FALL - THERE IS POWER IN NUMBERS