Contract Addresses Members' Top Priorities: Health And Pension Benefits
WASHINGTON, Aug. 5, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Teamster carhaulers have ratified a new National Master Automobile Transporters Agreement (NMATA), which addresses members' top priorities of health and pension benefits. Three regional supplemental agreements were also ratified.
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Ballots were counted today in Cheverly, Maryland before an independent observer. The agreement was ratified by a 72 to 28 percent margin. The agreement is retroactive to June 1, and runs 51 months, until Aug. 31, 2015. The union successfully negotiated a slightly longer-than-usual agreement so that the contract expiration will secure certain benefit provisions and get the next negotiating committee past the slower summer months of auto production. The agreement covers about 4,500 active workers in the United States.
"This contract reverses some of the difficult sacrifices our members have made and we are hopeful the industry continues to turn around," said Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa, chairman of the Teamsters National Automobile Transporters Industry Negotiating Committee (TNATINC). "In addition to protecting members' health care and retirement, the agreement provides for annual wage increases and a cost-of-living adjustment."
The agreement calls for annual wage increases totaling $1.35 per hour over the term of the agreement in addition to mileage-rate increases. The agreement also includes a cost-of-living adjustment of up to 10 cents per hour each year if inflation exceeds 3 percent. This is the first national carhaul contract since the mid-1990s where the union won wage increases in each year of the contract.
"Our carhaul members clearly recognized that this agreement maintains their health and pension benefits, which were two top priorities," said Fred Zuckerman, Director of the Teamsters Carhaul Division and co-chairman of TNATINC. "Going into negotiations, we were determined to protect our members' existing health care and retirement benefits and this agreement reflects that."
The agreement was unanimously endorsed by leaders of carhaul local unions and the TNATINC.
Founded in 1903, the Teamsters Union represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Visit www.teamster.org for more information.
SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters
