ABF 492 Contract Ratification Meetings and Vote

6/16/2023- To all ABF employees: there will be contract ratification meetings and a vote. Due to the short time until the expiration of the contract, Teamsters Local 492 will be voting on the contract in person at the Union Hall. Any employee of ABF and member in good standing will be able to cast a ballot at the Union Hall. There will be meetings to go over all changes to the current contract. If you cannot attend the meetings, I will be available at the hall to accept ballots during business hours throughout the week. There will only be in person voting, which is being conducted at Teamsters Local 492 Union Hall, 4269 Balloon Park Rd NE, Albuquerque NM 87109.

Ballots will be counted and reported to the IBT following the final meeting on Friday the 23rd of June.

The ABF Tentative Agreement is now available to view on teamsters492.org. Click on any of the links below to view:

ABF NMFA Master 2023-2028

ABF Highlights IBT Factsheet

Western States Area Common Clause – Part I

Western States Pickup & Delivery Local Cartage & Dock Workers – Part II

Western States OTR Motor Freight – Part III

Western States Automotive Shop & Truck Servicing – Part IV

Western States Office Employees – Part V

Should any questions arise over this matter, feel free to contact me at (505) 344-1925 ext. 18.

Tracy McCarty

Teamsters Local 492, Freight Business Agent

Union Officials Unanimously Approve ABF National Contract Proposal

6/15/2023 - Teamsters Union local leaders have announced their endorsement and support for the tentative agreement reached between the Teamsters National Freight Industry Negotiating Committee (TNFINC) and ABF Freight. The national contract covers over 8,500 members.

“With this new agreement, we have reset the standard and charted a new course for the entire freight industry,” said Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien. “The gains made at the table are a testament to our strength and commitment to revamp and rebuild the Freight Division.”

The five-year agreement will run from July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2028. The current agreement expires June 30.

Highlights of the tentative agreement include:

• Wage Increases: Members will receive a $3.50 per hour (.0875¢ per mile) raise effective July 1, 2023, with a total of $6.50 (.1625¢ per mile) in raises over the life of the agreement. The wage increase in year one alone surpasses those of the entire previous contract, providing meaningful improvements for members.
• COLA: The COLA provision is now uncapped 
• Expanded Benefits: MLK Day has been added as a new paid holiday, recognizing the significance of this day. Starting January 1, 2024, two additional annual paid sick days will be added to the contractual minimum, increasing the minimum number of paid sick days from five to seven.

• Health, Welfare, & Pension Contributions: The company is required to increase its contributions to health, welfare, and pension plans, with a total of $4.46 per hour of additional contributions over the term of the agreement. These contributions provide vital support for members’ health care and retirement needs.

• Protections and Safeguards: The tentative agreement includes provisions to safeguard members’ rights and well-being. It prohibits the use of invasive technology, such as inward-facing cab cameras, audio recorders, body sensors, and biometric technology in vehicles operated by bargaining unit employees. It also ensures protections against the use of autonomous vehicles or freight transportation without drivers/operators, safeguarding job security.

“This committee did a fantastic job and worked hard to secure this very strong tentative agreement,” said John A. Murphy, Teamsters National Freight Director. “Their months of dedication and resolve have resulted in a comprehensive agreement that addresses members’ top priorities and secures significant economic gains and non-economic improvements.”

Balloting will be conducted in person by each local union.