WASHINGTON, DC: Leaders of the Teamsters union announced today that negotiations for a new National Master Freight Agreement (NMFA) are set to begin in mid-December. The Teamster's National Freight Industry Negotiating Committee will bargain with Trucking Management Inc. (TMI), an association that represents the major unionized "less than truck load" or LTL employers.

The freight industry negotiations follow a series of productive meetings with management representatives to prepare for contract negotiations.

The preliminary discussions -- under the auspices of the Joint Industry Development Committee --gave both labor and management representatives a headstart on the major issues facing both freight industry employers and workers.

National negotiations will be led by Teamsters General President Ron Carey and Richard W. Nelson, Vice President-at-Large and Director of the National Freight Division.

"The preliminary meetings gave us an opportunity to address important issues and will help avoid problems that have occurred in past negotiations. Now we'll work hard to negotiate an agreement that meets the needs of our members without a disruption of service." said Teamsters General President Ron Carey.

The current National Master Freight Agreement expires March 31, 1998.

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