ABF, Teamsters reach another contract extension

   ABF Freight System and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters reached yet another contract extension Friday, allowing for negotiations to continue until Nov. 2.
   ABF and the Teamsters decided on a five-year national agreement on June 27, but still have not come to terms on the final two supplements of the deal, which was to begin August 1.
   The Central Region Local Cartage and Western Office Part 5 are two of the 27 supplemental agreements that remain unresolved. The company had previously stated in early October that a ratification of the Western Office Part 5 agreement would occur shortly, but that has yet to happen.
   On Sept. 30, the parties had agreed to extend negotiations until Oct. 29. That is also the day strike votes, submitted by the Central Region Local Cartage supplement of ABF, are expected to be counted. Ballots had been sent to ABF employees during the second week of October.
   “ABF is encouraging employees covered by the Central Region Local Cartage supplement to vote ‘No’ to the strike authorization and to let their voices be heard by making sure they exercise their right to cast a ballot,” the carrier said in a statement at the time. “ABF is aware that the Teamsters have also encouraged its Central Region Local Cartage members to vote ‘No’ to a strike in a letter they mailed to employees.”
   Roy Slagle, ABF’s president and chief executive office, spoke with American Shipper in August about the labor negotiations and the company’s 90th birthday, which occurred in September.