Teamsters Take Carhaul Jobs Fight to Skies Over Chrysler's Meeting

November 4, 2009

Flyover Is Part of Campaign Protesting Attempts By Chrysler To Destroy Good Jobs

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Nov. 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Two airplanes will be flying over the Chrysler Technology Centre from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. today to protest the company's attempt to destroy the jobs of experienced, professional drivers who deliver new cars to dealers.

Inside the building, top Chrysler management is publicly unveiling its new auto lineup and business plan today. Chrysler, owned by Fiat, received bailouts from U.S. taxpayers earlier this year, but is now demanding dramatic and unsustainable cost cuts from professional carhaul companies, threatening the thousands of good-paying, middle-class jobs in this industry that provide family health care benefits.

The airplanes will be pulling banners that read "Fiat/Chrysler Bailout Bandit" and "www.CarBuyersBeware.com." The web site was launched to educate consumers about how the bailed-out auto giants are ripping off American car buyers.

Consumers are being alerted that the cars they purchase could be delivered by drivers who do not have the appropriate experience or equipment to do the job safely. Improper delivery practices can greatly risk damaging new vehicles. Car buyers are still being charged mandatory "destination fees" of $900 or more, but these fees have no relation to the actual cost of transporting a vehicle. Those costs average $80-$120.

The Teamsters Union was founded in 1903 and represents more than 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters