WASHINGTON, D.C. - At the start of contract talks today with the Teamsters Union, the head of the association representing the major unionized Less Than Truckload (LTL) carriers predicted that a new agreement would be reached well in advance of the current contract's expiration.

"We started early and have made good progress so far," said Tim Lynch, President of the Motor Freight Carriers Association (MFCA).

Management and labor officials have been meeting since mid-September to discuss a variety of issues facing the industry, its workers and customers. These discussions were named Article 20 meetings after the provision of the current National Motor Freight Agreement (NMFA) establishing them. Heralding a new approach, this is the first time that preliminary meetings have been used in the 32-year history of the NMFA.

In another break from tradition, Lynch said that informal discussions would continue through the holidays. "We want to keep up the momentum," Lynch said.

"We expect some hard bargaining ahead," Lynch said. "But we know from our Article 20 conversations that both labor and management are mindful of those who are not at the bargaining table - our customers. Both sides are determined to do what we can to move constructively toward a new NMFA."

Both sides exchanged proposals at the start of formal contract talks that will take place in Washington, D.C. The current National Master Freight Agreement (NMFA) expires March 31, 1998.

"Both the union and management are committed to keeping unionized carriers the best in the business," Lynch said. "Our customers stay with us because we have the best trained and safest employees and offer better service and value. We intend to keep it that way."

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 IBT. 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 2 billion miles each year.

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