(Direct Newsline)—About 75 Kansas City area union truckers said they voted to go on strike because they were concerned about the safety of the mail.
According to news reports, the union members working for Mail Contractors of America the largest contractor with the U.S. Postal Service, have voted to strike over concerns about mail safety and losing job benefits.
Drivers for Mail Contractors of America, Inc. said they might conduct a work stoppage after the company unilaterally eliminated benefits previously obtained in collective bargaining. Those withdrawn benefits are reported to include company contributions to health insurance, company disability insurance, paid sick leave, vacation improvements and paid breaks.
Along with Kansas City, the dispute involves about 500 drivers who work out of terminals in Des Moines; Greensboro, NC; Jacksonville, FL, and Memphis, TN.
Mail Contractors is the biggest contract hauler of mail for the Postal Service. Union officials said the company hauls nearly 10% of the total U.S. mail in city-to-city driving.
A USPS spokesman said contingency plans are in place in case of a strike by the drivers.
In a separate development, the Postal Service reported yesterday ending its fiscal year with net income of $3.1 billion, down from $3.9 billion one year ago. Cost cutting and an increase in advertising mail helped the Service post better than expected results. Postal rates are not expected to climb again until 2006, according to news reports.
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