Oak Harbor Freight Teamsters Take to the Airwaves

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Teamsters Union launched a nationwide radio ad on Air America today as part of a national campaign condemning the Gap Inc. for its support of Oak Harbor Freight Lines, the company that transports Gap merchandise on the West Coast.

Oak Harbor Freight Lines workers inOregon,Washington andIdaho were forced to strike on Sept. 22 in protest of the freight company's violations of U.S. labor laws, as well as hostile efforts by company representatives to intimidate workers. A day later,Oak Harbor took the extraordinary step of cutting off health care benefits to its workers and retirees.

"Instead of negotiating in good faith," said Al Hobart, President of Teamsters Joint Council 28 and International Vice President, "Oak Harbor has imported teams of professional strikebreakers to coerce and scare loyal long-time employees. Even more outrageous is the company's move to ax health benefits -- which is the most irresponsible attack on working men and women that I have seen."

Oak Harbor's biggest freight customer, retail giant the Gap Inc., has supported the move to cut retiree health care benefits and to freeze workers' retirement income and slash sick leave.

Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI), Urban Outfitters, and other companies have elected to suspend their relationship withOak Harbor until the company finds a just and lasting resolution to the ongoing labor dispute.

More than 600 Teamsters remain on strike inWashington,Oregon andIdaho against Auburn, Washington-basedOak Harbor, after bargaining unsuccessfully for a fair contract for 11 months.

Several organizations, including United Students against Sweatshops, Sweatfree Communities, the International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers Federation, Students & Scholars Against Corporate Misbehavior, and the International Labor Rights Forum have called on Gap Inc. to suspend its relationship withOak Harbor. Unfortunately, the Gap continues to ignore workers' rights abuses and useOak Harbor to transport merchandise.

The Teamsters' radio ad will run on the national radio network Air America, and is expected to reach at least 1.6 million listeners. Air America is also available online at www.airamerica.com.

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters was founded in 1903 and represents 1.4 million hard working men and women throughoutthe United States,Canada andPuerto Rico.

SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters

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