200 IAM members have ratified a five-year, industry-leading national master agreement with T-Force Freight, even amid speculations of raids on IAM shops by the IBT Union (Teamsters) in the automotive and trucking industries where the IAM is currently active.
IAM negotiators and T-Force freight worked cohesively and swiftly to secure a solid agreement, which the membership overwhelmingly voted to accept.
Negotiations began on June 17, and after just four days of intense bargaining, the committee reached a tentative agreement to present to the membership.
“Apart from the overall gains in this contract, a genuine value to impart on our membership is the ability to grow with this employer,” said IAM Automotive Coordinator Craig Hughes. “Breaking away from traditional thinking now allows us the flexibility to grow for future collective bargaining.”
The agreement, which took effect on July 2, allows IAM members to be confident that their working agreement with T-Force freight is solid and secure.
“Plain and simple, we delivered for the membership here at T-Force Freight,” said IAM Resident General Vice President Jody Bennett. “Our membership stood firm during these negotiations and claimed what was rightfully theirs, regardless of the attempted outside influences in our industries.”
On May 23, 2024, the Teamsters nullified a no-raid pact it maintained with the IAM, ending a well-established practice. Since their exit from the AFL-CIO in 2013, the Teamsters immediately attempted to raid IAM members at American Airlines and US Airways, which later became part of American Airlines. The Teamsters continue to try to push into the IAM’s well-established automotive industry.
“The IAM is a leader in the automotive and trucking industries,” said IAM International President Brian Bryant. “The IAM is well-equipped with the tools to forge solid agreements for our members. This has always been our position, and we will not be sidelined by any other union attempting to create chaos.”
This five-year agreement with T-Force Freight expires in 2029.