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Vol.64/No.1      January 10, 2000 
 
 
Teamsters picketing Overnite: 'Every driver should be union'  
 
 
BY NED MEASEL AND KATHIE FITZGERALD 
MOONACHIE, New Jersey—Jerry Schlosser drove for Overnite Transportation for 10 years and was part of two organizing drives to have the Teamsters union recognized there. He now works for another Teamsters-organized carrier, but walks the picket line at the Overnite terminal here every day. He worked at this terminal and knows the drivers, several of whom he worked closely with during the organizing drives. In the last union recognition election, the union lost by two votes of the 55 workers.

In an interview, Schlosser explained why he is committed to winning union recognition at Overnite. He believes it will strengthen the whole union. "If we can win this fight with Overnite then we can deal with all the companies from a position of strength." This is important leading up to the expiration of the National Master Freight agreement, he says. If Overnite, the largest nonunion truck carrier and subsidiary of Union Pacific Railroad, can be organized, the fight to organize other nonunion carriers will be on the agenda.

Schlosser described some of the actions that Overnite took to divide workers and keep the union out. "The company has always played guys against one another. They've used race. When we were trying to organize they tried to pit the dock against the drivers. They tried to pit drivers against drivers." Arbitrary work assignments and discipline, including firings, aimed at known union supporters were common.

This is a strike based on solidarity, Schlosser said. Since Moonachie is not a union terminal, the drivers and dock workers at the Moonachie terminal are still working. The picket line is composed of Teamsters members from other companies and supporters, including retired drivers and members of other unions. Most Teamsters locals in the area have weekly collections for the strikers. A number of former Overnite drivers are regulars on the line.

As with other Overnite locations, this is an "ambulatory strike." Pickets follow trucks leaving the terminal and picket Overnite's customers as deliveries are made. If a Teamsters driver arrives, most often they will refuse to deliver, pack up, and move on until another time. This is fine with many of the Overnite drivers who support the union and come out of the terminal with Teamsters buttons on and waves for the picket line.

Schlosser explained the importance of working to win the drivers to the side of the union if they're not already and keeping good relations between pickets and drivers. When he was working at Overnite and fighting to get the union in he convinced many Teamsters members to approach nonunion drivers with solidarity, not scab-baiting. Other drivers "started to get friendly with the guys and it changed the attitudes of a lot of different drivers I talked to. It was a little easier for me to talk to them about the union."

Schlosser said, "I'm hoping with the way things are going, with Teamsters and other unions coming out, maybe unions will start working together and we can deal more from strength.... It doesn't make sense to cross anyone's picket line."

Ned Measel is a member of the Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees. Kathie Fitzgerald is a member of the United Transportation Union.  
 
 
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