The Associated Press is reporting that Overnite Transportation Co. is suing the Teamsters for $5.2 million in damages resulting from the 3-month-old strike against the trucking firm.
The federal lawsuit filed Monday also accuses Teamsters President James P. Hoffa and other union leaders in a string of violent and illegal activities "aimed at extorting a labor contract" with Overnite, the company said in a Monday press release.
The lawsuit also alleges a pattern of violence, including 57 acts of attempted murder and 131 acts of extortion, according to AP reports. Police have said at least five shootings appear to be related to the labor action.
The suit seeks damages in excess of $5.2 million for security expenses, damage to Overnite property and the property of its employees and costs of replacing workers who missed work due to the lawlessness.
"These charges are baseless and unfounded," declared Hoffa in a Teamsters press release issued Tuesday. "Overnite has accrued a powerful resume of labor law violations and is attempting to take the spotlight off of their shoddy record. The Teamsters will not back down from our unfair labor practices strike until company officials end their abuse of workers and bargain in good faith."
The Teamsters launched the strike Oct. 24 in seven states.
