Return of ATT to Springfield and Garland

We will know about the give backs tomorrow

 

We will learn tomorrow about the give backs. They put enough other stuff in it to get me to vote for its passage.

 

Why not share the details of your enthusiasm with us? Since I'm a Teamster at heart I probably won't see the details or given the chance to vote until after the fact, just like the previous second round contract vote.

Please share with us your insight instead of 'promoting' the company view? Your profile says you've been a trucker for 6 years. What did you do before ATT?

 

Pulled a refeer before ATT. I also drove flatbed back in the early 80s before I went in the military. I'm not promoting any view. I've been laid off so much when people junior to me at Laredo are still working. I don't like it either but I need to work and and if I'm correct (which I might not be the way they lie, but being laid off I've got nothing to lose) the cleveland drivers will somewhat be protected. All you have to do is look and companies all over the country are cutting back.

 

The proposed company seniority rule cuts both ways. When the hurricane went through Mexico recently the flow of trucks from the Freightliner plants was reduced to a trickle due to the damaged road system. As a result, outside drivers were largely barred in order to protect local jobs - understandable.

On the flip side, when the flow of trucks was good it was Laredo drivers experiencing full employment while many outside drivers are laid off, as you are quite familiar with unfortunately. I have mixed feelings about the situation....

 

I have mixed feelings also, this job is still better than any freight hauliing, I hope to know by the end of the week how the new contract will affect me, if not good then I'll look elsewhere for a job. I can imagine how LRD will be when they get those roads fixed.

 

If i could side-step a moment and get off topic, i thought laredo was an ok terminal----really nice, helpful people and you couldn't help but get miles----it's 600 miles just to get out of texas!

Also, lots of variety----2 way booms, medium duty cabovers which i loved---easy to undeck.

 

Its not bad at LRD, just was tough getting laid off at Cleveland and then the very next day they would send LRD drivers into cleveland to get loads. I really enjoy the job just don't think there is a future in it. Been able to hang on because wife had a good job, but she is getting laid off next friday. Don't want to but might be looking for a freight hauling job again.

 

Before you go back on the road, local LTL carriers always seem to be hiring. Troha is determined to turn truck haulers into 1099 employees. Won't happen across the board for obvious reasons and we must get better professional representation. I'm vested in the IAM pension plan but I'm not afraid to start over due to being 'sold down the river' by quota hire Andersen and Co.

Troha's 'divide and conquer' strategy has worked well to date, abeit with alittle 'help'. A Teamster shop would never put up with the 'company plants' that Troha uses at ATT and ITL to promote 'false consensus'.

 

I agree, if you would resign you wouldn't lose you vesting. I'm trying to hang on to get vested, only need a couple more weeks this year. I'm thinking of LTL just don't know what to do now. Good luck and hope to see you at Cleveland.