Tankhaulers Educate Customers at 7-Elevens During Thanksgiving Weekend
SOUTH EL MONTE, Calif., Nov. 26, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --Tankhaul drivers of Teamster local unions nationwide joined members of Local Union 986 as they hand billed Thanksgiving weekend customers outside of St. Louis, Chicago, Tacoma, Wash., and California 7-Elevens this morning to protest KAG West's destruction of union jobs. KAG West supplies gasoline to 7-Eleven stores.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100127/IBTLOGO )
"It seems like KAG West doesn't care about good jobs," said Frank Basaldua, a tankhaul driver and member of Teamsters Local 986 in South El Monte, Calif. "They just want to cut, cut, cut - but that hasn't stopped us from continuing to work safely and efficiently. That's what we were hired to do."
More than 380 tankhaul drivers working for KAG West are represented by Teamsters Local 986. The union and the company have been bargaining to achieve a first contract for over 14 months, but the company continues to delay contract talks or show up unprepared to bargain.
At last Saturday's hand billing in front of 7-Elevens in Whittier, San Diego and other Southern California cities, 7-Eleven managers saw a steep decline in sales. Today, Teamster tankhaul drivers from local unions across the United States are rallying behind the contract bargaining for Local 986. Throughout the country, Teamsters represent more than 10,000 tankhaul drivers in every state.
"We know with the strength of our tankhaul members across the country behind us we will be able to turn the direction of these KAG West contract negotiations around for the better," said Chris Griswold, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 986.
Founded in 1903, the Teamsters Union represents 1.4 million men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Visit www.teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @teamsterpower.
SOURCE Teamsters Local Union 986
