Negotiating a new national ABF contract was hard.

The company was committed to taking away some of the most important gains that the union had won over many years. Some concessions were made. However, union negotiators were able to secure a proposed contract that offers a strong future for Teamster members and their families.

The union’s top goal was to protect the members’ health and pension benefits, according to lead negotiators. Management fought to make major cuts to the pension and health benefits of the members. Thanks to a united union, the Teamsters beat back these demands.

Leaders from about 160 Teamster local unions that represent ABF members recently unanimously endorsed the tentative contract that covers 7,500 workers.

The proposed contract was recently unanimously endorsed by all the members of the Teamsters’ bargaining committee. While the tentative agreement calls for a 7 percent wage reduction, the money will be recouped by the end of the contract.

“Nobody ever wants to see a pay cut, but in light of the company’s struggles and our desire to see the company survive, something needed to be done,” said Gordon Sweeton, Co-Chairman of the National ABF Negotiating Committee for the Teamsters National Freight Industry Negotiating Committee (TNFINC). “It is in our best interests, as well as ABF’s, that this company be given a chance to climb out of this deep recession so that our members’ futures are protected.”

Ballots will be mailed out on or about June 3 and are due back on or about June 27 and will then be counted.