Drivers at this [union] company retire because of health reasons, not because of financial stability.
The following list of drivers below hopefully demonstrates how this company [and lack of union representation] is effecting the health and welfare of its members.
- Gilcrease – Company driver who had worked with us for about 7 years. Quit shortly after Gary had became terminal manager and passed away May 11th, 2006 due to abdominal cancer.
- Gabriel – Company driver who was forced into retirement due to abdominal surgery complications.
- Adkins – Company driver who turned owner operator. Retired early shortly after undergoing open heart surgery.
- Guterreiz – Found leaning over steering wheel after a heart attack, by his girlfriend at a truck stop.
- Daggett – Blacked out on side of road. Went to hospital. Was put on several tests, including a $5,500 MRI. Later put on wellbutrin, yet never diagnosed the problem that still remains until this day.
- Padgett – Undergone stress tests.
- Shouse – Undergone stress tests.
- Sarno – Dropped a steel ramp on his wrist, breaking his bones and severing his nerves making his dominant hand inoperable. (Payroll refused to reimburse driver for a taxi ride from the hospital to his truck after turning in the reciept)
- Curtis – Undergone open heart surgery due to stress. Few weeks later, driver was pushed to pull Georgia/Florida loads in between doctors appointments.
Our terminal averages around 30 drivers at any given time, with an average of 33% of them retiring due to health reasons. Truck drivers are forced to work an average of 70 hours a week, yet do not retire financially, due to the IAM’s weak contractual language and enforcement.
For a Union Company, This is Simply Unacceptable!
