Teamsters Organizing Rally
May 31, 1998
Truckers Turn to Labor Union for Job Security
Associated Press

June 3, 1998, SEATTLE; Truckers, who 20 years ago were at each other's throats after deregulation of the industry pitted union against non-union drivers, may soon be one big happy family.

The reason: The independent truckers -- driven mostly by job insecurity -- want to be members of the General Teamsters Local Union 174.

The union hopes to negotiate a master agreement with the 50 trucking companies that bid on work offered by local container-shipping terminal operators. Organizing efforts also will target shipping lines and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Union Pacific railroads.

The family feeling came only after years of hard times for both sides. "We've both reached bottom,'' said Robert Hasegawa, Local 174 secretary-treasurer.