[PresidentFelon]

I currently employ approximately forty International Brotherhood of Teamsters members to drive tractor-trailers for our family foodservice distribution company. I have negotiated four seperate agreements with Teamsters over the last twelve years. None of them was easy but we never had a strike or lockout. I did, however, pay out more than I wanted to to get an agreement each time because my family was never really prepared to deal with a strike or lockout.

My point is that unless you are willing to play hardball and have been empowered to do so, the union has all the cards. If your goal is to get an agreement without a strike then you are usually going to lose. If your goal is to give no more than a pre-determined amount then you better be preparted to stick to your guns and suffer a strike if necessary.

as other posters have said, there are professional companies that can help you with this. They are usually expensive but not expensive relative to what you may have to give up should you not use professionals. Incidently, I cannot believe anybody would start worrying about or looking for expertise AFTER the negotiations have begun.

If anybody wants to e-mail me for help or advise on contract negotiations they should feel free to do so.

Freespectfully,

PresidentFelon

cmcfarling@mcfarling.com

[JOE6PAK]

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