Teamsters Ratify National Carhaul Agreement

The Teamsters union said it has ratified a national agreement covering about 4,500 U.S. automobile-hauling workers.

The union ratified the National Master Automobile Transporters Agreement, which it said addresses members’ “top priorities of health and pension benefits.” The Teamsters also approved three regional agreements.

The agreement, which was ratified by a 72% to 28% vote, is retroactive to June 1 and runs for 51 months, through Aug. 31, 2015.

The union said it negotiated a slightly longer contract agreement than usual so that its expiration will secure certain benefit provisions and get the next negotiating committee past the slower summer months of auto production.

The contract calls for annual wage increases totaling $1.35 per hour over the term of the agreement in addition to mileage-rate increases, and a cost-of-living adjustment of up to 10 cents per hour each year if inflation exceeds 3%.

It is the first national carhaul contract since the mid-1990s where the union won wage increases in each year of the contract, the Teamsters said.