ABF decision pending

By: Ethan C. Nobles 12 April 2011 9 Comments

Fort Smith-based Arkansas Best Corp (NasdaqGS:ABFS) appealed the dismissal of its lawsuit against the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and had its day in court this morning.

The company is still waiting on a ruling, said spokesman David Humphrey, adding ABF officials aren’t sure when the panel of judges who heard the appeal will come to a decision on the case.

Arkansas Best is the parent company of ABF Freight System, a less-than-truckload carrier employing about 7,000 union drivers. The company filed suit against the Teamsters because of some concessions the union allowed YRC Worldwide, an Overland Park, Kan.-based less-than-truckload carrier that employs about 25,000 union drivers and is a major ABF competitor.

Humphrey said the purpose of the lawsuit is to “level the playing field” — YRC was able to negotiate some concessions that ABF couldn’t and the Arkansas carrier says it is at an unfair disadvantage in the market. ABF has asked for $750 million in damages.

The complaint was dismissed late last year by U.S. District Court Susan Webber Wright (Eastern District of Arkansas) for want of jurisdiction. ABF appealed that decision on March 21, where it was taken up this morning by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit in St. Louis.

When First Arkansas News hears of a decision on that appeal, we’ll post it.

An interesting side note to this story is that ABF, by and large, still values its relationship with the Teamsters.

Stay tuned…

About: Ethan C. Nobles:
Benton resident. Rogue journalist. Recovering attorney. Email = Ethan@FirstArkansasNews.net.

(No Ratings Yet)

Loading ...

9 Comments »

Edward said:

When is the decision expected?

# 12 April 2011 at 4:14 pm

Ethan C. Nobles (author) said:

Not sure. ABF doesn’t know, but we should receive word when a decision is made.

# 12 April 2011 at 4:28 pm

outlaw said:

hope abf wins cause they seem like a fair company,yrc is corrupt.

# 13 April 2011 at 9:37 am

Dr John said:

If you look at the ABF (Me Too) agreement, They don’t follow all the stipulations in the National Freight agreement. They chose to work on some of the work rules on their own. Now they say they want it both ways, And it doesn’t cover all things, If ABF’s workers voted it down, then it is up to ABF to fight it out with their union workers. Just remember their workers said no, not the workers at YRC.

# 14 April 2011 at 2:24 pm

Earl said:

We here a Local 710 voted “NO” for Concessions and we still got our rights and voice stolen away, so it’s not how you vote it’s what the Teamsters and the Companies PLOTS underneath the tables!!!!!!!!!!!

# 14 April 2011 at 3:14 pm

Earl said:

I PRAY THAT ABF WINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

# 14 April 2011 at 11:46 pm

Lou said:

The truth of the matter is the Conssesions were voted down two and three times by Locals 705 and 710 of Chicago,Il. They weren’t happy with the results, so they changed the rules of the game and took away our white paper contract and changed the game till we got the vote right. What type of democratic system keeps you voting until they get the results they want. One vote one count and accept the results.

# 17 April 2011 at 4:01 pm

ABF decision pending - TeamstersOnline said:

[...] [...]

# 21 April 2011 at 8:53 pm