Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 6, 1994                   TAG: 9404060110
SECTION: NATIONAL/INT                    PAGE: A-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Medium

TEAMSTERS STRIKE HITS 22 HAULERS

The work stoppage by about 75,000 Teamsters began at 12:01 a.m., union spokeswoman Nancy Stella said.

No negotiating sessions had been scheduled.

``We don't plan to call them and we don't expect them to call, '' said Robert Young, president of ABF Freight Systems in Fort Smith, Ark., and a spokesman for the companies.

``We're prepared for the worst,'' he added. ``We hope it doesn't last long.''

Jim Guynn, president of Teamsters Local 171, was busy Tuesday evening coordinating union members in Roanoke, Wytheville, Lynchburg and other localities in the local's region.

Guynn said the local has about 250 members who would be affected by the freight contract. Though United Parcel Service's employees are not covered in the contract, Guynn said truckers at other major haulers are, including Roadway Express, Yellow Freight System, ABF Freight System and Preston Trucking Co.

Consumers should feel little immediate impact, since many of the companies transport raw materials and equipment parts rather than finished products. Most food deliveries would not be affected.

Teamsters called off a strike against a 23rd company after Carolina Freight Carriers Corp. announced it would accept any new agreement reached between the union and the other companies. That allowed about 5,200 Carolina Freight workers to stay on the job.

Arthur Bunte Jr., chief negotiator for the companies, called the strike decision ``an act of irresponsible leadership that will destroy jobs, not protect them.''

But Teamsters president Ron Carey said the union would not give in to the use of part-time workers, because that would eventually cost thousands of jobs.