http://www.teamster.org/08news/nr_080111_4.asp

TEAMSTERS SAY:

" DON'T WHITEWASH BORDER CRASH INVESTIGATION "

January 11, 2008


(Washington, D.C.) – The Teamsters Union urges the Bush administration to fully investigate the fiery border crash that involved two Mexican trucks on Thursday—and to tell the public exactly what happened and why.

According to news reports, two tractor-trailer trucks with Mexican license plates crashed and burst into flames on a bridge linking Reynosa, Mexico and Pharr, Texas, on Thursday night. Four people died and six were injured.

“We’ve been saying for years that Mexican trucks are not as safe as American trucks,” said Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa. “We’re concerned the Bush administration will cover up what happened because it wants to protect its illegal and reckless project to open the border to Mexican trucks.” The Bush administration claims it can track all the trucks involved in its pilot project using satellite tracking technology that cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars.

“Will the Bush administration come clean on exactly what caused the latest deadly accident involving trucks from Mexico?” Hoffa said.

A federal law took effect on Dec. 26 that bans funding for the Bush administration’s program to allow long-haul trucks from Mexico to use American highways. In brazen defiance of that and other laws, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) refused to shut down the pilot project.

“The Senate voted to stop this program just after a Mexican truck loaded with ammonium nitrate was involved in a crash that killed 34 and injured 150,” Hoffa said.

“How many people have to die before the Bush administration takes highway safety seriously?” Hoffa said.

The Teamsters believe the pilot program creates a dangerous precedent on American highways because Mexican trucks and truck drivers are not held to the same safety standards as their U.S. counterparts.

The Teamsters and other safety advocates challenged the legality of the program in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco. A hearing date is set for Feb. 12.

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents more than 1.4 million hard-working men and women in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

 

Although it's an important issue, what does this have to do with being an owner operator? :?

 

:twisted: :twisted: Aren't you a teamster???? :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: 8)

 

No to answer your question, I can't afford the initial fees to join or the monthly dues in a " right to work " state that has no binding arbitration.

 

Ummmm.. I was joshing you...you knew that...right????

 

Yupper. 8)

 

According to government statistics: >>>Union workers produce 40% LESS work than the average non-union worker.

"...and they DEMAND twice more in pay "

Unions is one of the reasons this country is so messed up. For starters they are operated by ORGANIGED CRIME, -the mafia :!:

The 'union' concept is communistic, this is a FREE enterprise country, -the best system yet :!:

God Bless all

 

Mandy,

Maybe you should start your own thread about it since I am not aware of any owner operators in a union. You could also get more hits on your website and solicit midgets to drive your little pick up trucks.

 

I admit I know little about the trucking industry although I am learning
more each day but I have a question about the article Shebear posted.
I am not defending GW bush here but didn't the Nafta agreement signed back in 94 or 95 ( not sure) by Clinton have this pilot program in place? Although it has been delayed I believe I read that it was a part of the Nafta agreement. Please let me know if this is true or not . Darin