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

DATE: TUESDAY, April 12, 1994                   TAG: 9404120140
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: C-8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Medium

1 COMPANY SETTLES, ANOTHER CLOSES

The union called off the strike against Preston Trucking after the firm agreed to negotiate its own contract with the Teamsters. Preston was the seventh-largest company involved in the strike, which started last Wednesday.

Another company, Churchill Truck Lines Inc. of Chillicothe, Mo., blamed its closure on the demands of unionized drivers.

``It was a tough decision, but when you can't make a profit, there's no use in spinning your wheels,'' said company President Kenneth Churchill.

``It was just that, under the union's demands, we wouldn't be able to operate at a profit,'' Churchill said. ``We would not be in a position to compete for business. The Teamsters priced themselves out of business.''

In Washington, Teamsters President Ron Carey contended Churchill's demise was caused by bad management decisions and came despite $3 million in wage concessions by union members in recent months.

The company, which started in 1926, employed about 1,500 Teamsters and 530 other workers. It hauled freight in 26 states.

Each side called for the other to return to the bargaining table in an attempt to resolve the strike by about 70,000 unionized drivers and dock workers. But no new talks were scheduled.

Trucking Management Inc., which represents the companies, has said unionized haulers cannot stay in business unless the Teamsters agree to allow increased use of trains and part-time workers.

The union has said opening the door to part-timers would cost thousands of full-time jobs eventually.