Teamsters fold 3-year strike at trucking company without victory

Thursday, October 24th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

WASHINGTON (AP) _ The Teamsters pulled out of a long, caustic strike Thursday against Overnite Transportation Co., defeated in an attempt to unionize the nationwide trucking company exactly three years after picket lines went up.

Union leaders had hopes for a quick victory that could help restore the power the union once enjoyed under the father of President James P. Hoffa. But the company fought unionization attempts, and the strike was ugly, with both sides alleging bribes, property destruction and violence.

Overnite President Leo Suggs said in a statement that taking care of employees ``has allowed Overnite to thrive even as the Teamsters have tried to hurt this company and its people.'' On Thursday, Overnite reported third-quarter revenue up 7 percent.

The Teamsters blame their loss on weak labor laws and the Bush administration, which they say failed to enforce those laws. The union contends Richmond, Va.-based Overnite refused to recognize the union and negotiate, and it punished and fired workers sympathetic to union efforts.

``We have a labor board that's a cardboard cutout of a policeman,'' said Teamsters spokesman David Cameron.

The Teamsters began efforts to unionize the company, city by city, eight years ago. Workers in 26 of Overnite's 170 terminals voted to be represented by the Teamsters, but a contract was never reached with the company and the union called a strike on Oct. 24, 1999.

The 13,000-employee Overnite is a subsidiary of Union Pacific Corp. and one of the largest companies without a union contract. About 2,000 workers initially honored the strike, called over unfair labor practice claims, but most have returned to work.

Only about 500 are still honoring the picket line, although nearly all have found new jobs, Cameron said. The company says the number is less than 300.

The failure to unionize Overnite represents obstacles the labor movement faces today, said Richard Hurd, director of labor studies at Cornell University.

``It's a more difficult environment because employers are emboldened by the current economic environment and the current political environment,'' Hurd said. ``It's not good for unions.''

Hoffa inherited the Overnite dispute from his predecessor, Ron Carey, but he was the one to authorize the strike and make success a priority, calling trucking the union's ``heart and soul.''

``I for one did not work years to get to this position to see'' failure, Hoffa told Overnite workers in 1999. ``I will not sit by and watch our union's greatest treasure and my father's greatest legacy be destroyed.''

The union claimed successes even as it put down picket signs at some terminals Thursday. Average hourly wages have increased by $5.25 to about $19 an hour and the company now pays overtime and provides improved health care, pension and vacation benefits, Cameron said.

The union promised to continue the cause. Overnite workers in Rockford, Ill., recently voted for Teamster representation.

``For however long it takes, that is how long we will fight for justice for these workers,'' Hoffa said in a statement.

But Overnite spokesman Ira Rosenfeld said the National Labor Relations Board told the company this week that three of the 26 locations where the Teamsters represent workers have voted out the union.

``For the union to claim any measure of victory is ludicrous in light of the pain they have caused these people in their campaign waged only for the political benefit of the union and its leadership,'' Rosenfeld said.

Drivers' reactions were mixed.

``Why do I need them here?'' said driver Dave Carey in Columbus, Ohio. ``There honestly was a time when the union was extremely useful and extremely needed. I believe that time has passed.''

Ron Falkowski in Milwaukee said he crossed the picket line last November and went back to work. But he doesn't blame the union.

``They did everything they could legally,'' Falkowski said. ``Overnite was the one that continued to break the law and do whatever they wanted to break the union.''

The Teamsters' criticism of the Bush administration occurs as the union and the White House have been building bridges with an eye toward the 2004 presidential elections.

Hoffa and President Bush have not spoken directly about Overnite, but their representatives have been in contact, said Teamsters spokesman Bret Caldwell.

``When we can find common ground with the White House, we will,'' Caldwell said. ``Obviously we're disappointed with the direction that their appointments have taken, especially in the area of labor law. We believe there needs to be more teeth to protect workers, and that's not happening.''