ABF, Teamsters Begin Wage-Cut Talks, Union Says

The Teamsters union said it was beginning talks Thursday with ABF Freight System on the company’s request for wage reductions.

Union leader Tyson Johnson said in a statement on the Teamsters’ Web site that the talks are a follow up to a March 22 meeting with the less-than truckload carrier and are being pursued with support of union members and leaders.

“Our paramount duty in these negotiations is to protect the jobs and benefits of the 7,000 Teamsters at ABF,” said Johnson, co-chairman of the union’s freight industry negotiating committee.

ABF Freight System is a unit of Arkansas Best Corp., ranked No. 18 on the Transport Topics 100 listing of U.S. and Canadian for-hire carriers.