WASHINGTON, D.C. - Teamsters Union and management negotiators have agreed on a new five-year National Master Freight Agreement (NMFA) governing major unionized less than truckload (LTL) carriers and their employees, the head of Motor Freight Carriers Association (MFCA) said today. "After weeks of hard bargaining, we have reached an agreement which is now subject to ratification by the Teamsters rank and file," said Timothy Lynch, President of MFCA.

The new agreement applies only to ABF Freight System, Inc., Consolidated Freightways, Roadway Express, Inc. and Yellow Freight System, Inc.

"Over the past several months, both sides worked toward a common goal - reaching an early agreement without a work stoppage," said Michael Wickham, President of Roadway Express, Inc. and Chairman of the MFCA. "We have achieved that goal."

Lynch was critical of competitors who sought to use the uncertain labor atmosphere to try and lure customers from the MFCA carriers. "There were those who doubted our ability to reach an early agreement, and some tried to capitalize on the environment by driving a wedge between our employees and our customers. Their efforts failed. Our companies have emerged from this process stronger, and our customers are assured of continuing to get the best service in the business by the best employees in the business," Lynch added.

Details of the National Master Freight Agreement were not disclosed. However; Lynch said that the new agreement provides union workers with wage and benefit increases, job security and NAFTA protection.

Headquartered in Washington, D.C., MFCA is the national trade association representing unionized carriers on public policy and economic issues affecting the industry. Its TMI Division represents four authorized companies in the NMFA negotiations with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. Employing some 75 percent of the Teamsters covered by the NMFA, these carriers serve 1.4 million customers in all 50 states and transport 261 million tons of freight over two billion miles each year.

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