STRIKE COULD HURT AUTOMAKERS; TEAMSTERS CONTRACT DEADLINE LOOMS.Byline: Alexandra R. Moses Associated Press Associated Press: see news agency. Associated Press (AP) Cooperative news agency, the oldest and largest in the U.S. and long the largest in the world. A threatened Teamsters Teamsters large, powerful union of U. S. truckers. [Am. Hist.: NCE, 2703] See : Labor strike against the nation's car haulers next week could put the brakes on the auto industry's record sales pace, hurting automakers who depend on the big-rig drivers to get cars and hot-selling sport-utility vehicles to dealers' showrooms. So far this year, U.S. sales of new cars and light trucks are up 9 percent. The showdown is the first test for James P. Hoffa For other uses, see Hoffa (disambiguation). James Phillip Hoffa (born May 19, 1941), is the president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. He is the only son of Jimmy Hoffa, who was also a president of the Teamsters, and his wife, Josephine Poszywak. since he became president of the union in March, assuming a post once held by his late father, Jimmy. ``The industry is making big money. It's time It's Time was a successful political campaign run by the Australian Labor Party (ALP) under Gough Whitlam at the 1972 election in Australia. Campaigning on the perceived need for change after 23 years of conservative (Liberal Party of Australia) government, Labor put forward a the owners shared the profits with the people doing the hard work,'' Hoffa has said. Negotiators are working against a deadline of 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, when the current contract expires. Earlier this month, the truckers voted 5,705-251 to give their negotiating committee the power to call a strike if talks fail. ``This is the moment of negotiations when one never knows,'' said Ian Hunter Ian Hunter is the name of:
Though Hunter is optimistic op·ti·mist n. 1. One who usually expects a favorable outcome. 2. A believer in philosophical optimism. op , he said negotiations are intense. ``It is fair to say there are a number of major issues unresolved,'' he said. The Teamsters are seeking improved pensions, higher wages, a reduction in ``excessive work hours'' and improved health care. They also say they oppose proposals for a wage scale that provides lower salaries to entry-level drivers. ``Our drivers are the highest paid in the trucking industry,'' Hunter said. ``The average driver wage last year was $68,000.'' Meanwhile, he said, automakers are pressing for lower prices and labor costs have gone up 33 percent in the past four years. The Teamsters contract covers about 12,000 drivers, mechanics and yard and office workers nationwide. If a strike were called, industry officials expect the Teamsters initially would target just one of the major trucking companies that contract with automakers to move new cars and trucks to dealers from assembly plants, ports and rail yards. ``The auto industry will certainly feel it. It depends on how long it lasts,'' said Howard Foster, professor of industrial relations industrial relations pl.n. Relations between the management of an industrial enterprise and its employees. industrial relations Noun, pl the relations between management and workers at State University of New York (body) State University of New York - (SUNY) The public university system of New York State, USA, with campuses throughout the state. . ``It's distressing to the car companies now because . . . they're in the middle of a banner year. ``(But) I don't see it as an event that will bring the republic to its knees.'' CAPTION(S): 2 Photos Photo: (1--Color) A truckload truck·load n. The quantity that a truck can hold. truckload n → camión m lleno of vehicles travels westbound on a Dallas highway Friday afternoon. A threatened Teamsters strike could hurt automakers. Donna McWilliam/Associated Press (2--Color) Darrell Earhart of Detroit secures the car hauler he drives after making a delivery. Paul Sancya/Associated Press |
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