A.M. Executive Briefing - Oct. 13
This Morning's Headlines:
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Judge Orders Two Sides in Wawa Strike Back in Court
Judge Mary Collins of Philadelphia Common Pleas Court on Tuesday ordered Wawa Food Markets officials and participants in the Teamsters strike to reenter court for more discussions. She turned down a company request for restrictions of one picketer at a distance of 1,000 feet from each store.The Teamsters say they have filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board of unfair labor practices.
In a fullpage ad in today's Philadelphia Inquirer, Wawa President and Chief Executive Richard D. Wood, Jr. said, "It is our goal to see this strike end and our associates back to work." New Jersey Online (10/13/99)
Signatures Turned in on Gas Tax Measure Challenge
Oregon/Idaho American Automobile Association President Roger Graybeal says opponents of raising the gas tax in Oregon gave the secretary of state's office 71,369 signatures on a petition to put the tax hike to a May referendum, more than the 44,524 registered voter signatures necessary. In case some signatures are invalidated, Graybeal says more signatures will be given over.The package, which is set to become effective Oct. 23 unless the referendum movement is successful, also taxes diesel while scuttling trucks' weight-mile tax. While truckers say it is difficult and expensive to make the weight-mile tax work, the AAA says the planned tax change would cause motorists to have to make up for some of the damage trucks do to roads.
Regarding the AAA's objection, state Senate Transportation Committee Chairwoman Marylin Shannon (R-Brooks), who had a big part in the tax bill, points to a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would force the state to review how roads are paid for every other year. Oregon Live Online (10/13/99) ; Beggs, Charles E.
Canadian Deregulation Ushered In Troubling Era for Truckers
Even before Canada's National Transportation Act, which included trucking deregulation, started becoming effective early in 1988, the majority of the country's truck drivers were bracing for tougher work and lower pay due to more competition both from U.S. companies and new Canadian ones. Some figured many companies would go bankrupt.The provinces adopted safety rules. Not three years had passed before there had been large protests around the country, including independents blocking the borders and dump trucks holding up traffic in Quebec by dumping gravel.
Some in the industry now feel the country's truck volume is too high, since it is much easier to get into the business after deregulation.
Bouret Transport director of operations Andre Henri said in September that truckers' pay is down, making it tough to get new people into the business, and owner-operators' costs are high.
Even as independents push for their interests, Quebec's Transport Minister is going after truck safety with 125 new inspectors and a proposed speed limit of 90 km/h for truckers.
The Syndicat National du Transport Routier, an organization of truckers, wants specified short-haul hourly pay and a working-hours restriction from the province. Montreal Gazette (10/12/99) P. A4; Moore, Lynn
Truck Blockade Peters Out
Although Quebec truckers had voted not to obey a court order keeping them from blocking off highways in protest of the cost of fuel and their inability to unionize, many of the trucks all over Quebec had abandoned the blockades by Tuesday's end. This seems to be due to arrests as well as a stern caution from the province.There have been temporary layoffs of roughly 260 employees and lost business among important employers in the Abitibi section of Quebec, says Jean-Yves Baril, who leads the chamber of commerce there. He adds that the chambers of commerce will "join [the truckers] in the fight" against high fuel prices once truckers remove the blockades. Calgary Herald Online (10/13/99)
Report: Caltrans Underreported Bridge Collisions
The California Highway Patrol was to put out a report Tuesday saying 1999 has seen 12 to 14 crashes into low bridges due to faulty routing of overheight trucks by the state transportation Department, even though the department said last month the number is seven.State Sen. Joe Dunn (D-Santa Ana), vice chairman of the transportation committee, says that after a deadly crash on July 19 the department said such problems "didn't happen very often ... [a]nd with each passing month, the number increases."
The committee was to look at the report Tuesday.
Caltrans spokesman Jim Drago says it will look over the information to see if the trucks in all the incidents had permits, which are required for load heights above 14 feet. Associated Press (10/12/99)
Trucker Gets 60 Years in Prison for Fiery Crash that Killed
ourTrucker Jose Coronado Martinez, convicted on four counts of intoxication manslaughter in a June 29 crash that killed a man and his three children, has been given 60 years in prison as well as an order from the judge to put the family's picture in his cell.
The Harris County, Texas, jury gave Martinez 15 years per count, which the judge said should be served consecutively.
The sentence "sends a message that if you drive a truck you've got a greater responsibility, if you drink you've got a greater responsibility, and that you shouldn't drive impaired," says Warren Diepraam, the prosecutor. J
Jon A. Jaworski, the defense lawyer, complained about the order to serve consecutively, saying, "One of the jurors indicated they did not expect the judge to stack," and says he will move for another trial. He also charges that some witnesses gave false testimony and says the sentence could be "politically motivated and even culturally motivated." Associated Press (10/12/99)
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