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To: Hawkmoon who wrote (45011)	11/15/1999 10:16:00 AM
From: long-gone	Respond to of 116758

8, November 1999 Gore Looking For Teamsters Endorsement By Deborah Lockridge, Senior Editor Vice President Al Gore is still trying to win the endorsement of the Teamsters union in his bid for president. The Teamsters refused to endorse him last month, even as the AFL-CIO did so. Gore last week addressed the quarterly board meeting of the Teamsters' General Executive Board at the Teamsters' Washington, DC, headquarters, at the invitation of Teamsters President James P. Hoffa. One of the key issues discussed was Mexican trucking and the North American Free Trade Agreement. Gore reportedly tried to ease the union's concerns that unsafe Mexican trucks will come streaming across the border if it is ever opened as NAFTA calls for. When asked what he would do differently from the Clinton administration, Gore acknowledged that labor concerns have not been a high enough priority during international trade negotiations. "I believe in free trade -- but it has to be fair trade," Gore said. The union's leaders have also met with the other Democratic presidential hopeful, Bill Bradley, and say they hope to meet with Republican front-runner George W. Bush. All three candidates support free trade, which puts them at odds with organized labor. The Hoffa administration maintains that it is too early to endorse a candidate for the presidential election. According to the Teamsters, Gore made several comments in support of the Teamsters' organization efforts at Overnite Transportation during the AFL-CIO convention. The Teamsters have been picketing a disputed number of Overnite terminals since Oct. 24. "This is the largest private sector organizing effort of any U.S. union in the last quarter century," said Gore, according to a Teamsters press release. "You have been met with the most wide-ranging and relentless anti-union campaigns in history. ... We want to shine a spotlight on the unfairness of employers like Overnite." 12, November 1999 AFL-CIO Beefs Up Teamsters Strike Fund By Deborah Lockridge, Senior Editor The Teamsters union is getting help from the AFL-CIO in its fight against Overnite Transportation in the form of a $100,000 contribution to strike fund coffers. The union has been staging an unfair labor practices strike against less-than-truckload carrier Overnite since Oct. 24. The union started paying $55 per week strike benefits last week, but Wednesday announced it is increasing the amount to $100 per week. To help pay for the additional benefits, the Teamsters have asked Locals to establish a contribution of 10 cents per member per month to a special Overnite strike fund. Teamster Joint Councils are also asked to provide a substantial, regular monthly contribution to the fund. Teamster of Canada already contributed $25,000. In notifying the Teamsters that the AFL-CIO was contributing $100,000 to the Overnite strike fund, AFL-CIO President John Sweeney called on affiliated unions to join in support, as well. While a couple of thousand Overnite workers are on strike, according to Teamsters spokesman David Cameron, only about 500 are eligible for strike benefits. That's because the union has arranged for work as "casuals" for other striking workers at other union companies. The union expects to have $500,000 to $750,000 in the Overnite strike fund by the end of the month. At the $100 per week benefit for approximately 500 workers, that's enough to fund the strike for 10 to 15 weeks, Cameron says. The union currently has pickets at 140 terminals in 39 states. Overnite says the pickets are predominantly being walked by employees of Overnite's unionized competitors. Last week, about 50 people from other area unions joined picketers at the Overnite Transportation terminal in Macon, GA. Members of at least 14 different unions, including the Teamsters, walked the picket line, reported The Macon Telegraph. The Macon Federation of Trades & Labor Council, which represents about 35 area unions, has promised to help Teamsters and striking Overnite employees. The group plans to raise money for the striking employees and are in the process of setting up a food bank. 3, November 1999 Low-Sulfur Diesel Would Cost 5-7 Cents More It would cost an average of 5 cents to 7 cents per gallon to reduce current sulfur levels in diesel fuel by 90%, from 500 parts per million to below 50 ppm. That's according to a study sponsored by the Engine Manufacturers Assn. "More interesting is that the study also found that it would cost only an additional 2 cents per gallon to go the rest of the way from 50 ppm to below 5 ppm sulfur," said Glenn Keller, EMA's executive director. Sulfur in fuel is known to inhibit the performance of certain emission control devices that will have to be used on diesel engines to meet upcoming federal emissions regulations. A 5 ppm sulfur cap is what emission control device manufacturers have identified as necessary to maximize the performance of their control technologies. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the California Air Resources Board have announced that the next generation of diesel engines will be required to achieve more than a 90% reduction in NOx and particulate emissions from 2004 regulations. "This emissions reduction target will require near zero levels of sulfur to enable the commercial viability of catalytic controls being developed for diesel engines," says Keller. The EMA notes that engine manufacturers have already reduced diesel engine particulates by 90% and NOx by 70% since the mid-1970s. The report, "Refining Economics of Diesel Fuel Sulfur Standards," was developed with the cooperation of the American Petroleum Institute, the National Petroleum Refiners Association and various refinery technology vendors. The final report can be found on the EMA Web site at engine-manufacturers.org. roadstaronline.com