The Teamsters Union on Thursday withdrew its petition for a representation election of truck drivers just hours before it was to happen at Con-Way Freight’s Orlando, Florida terminal.

In a statement Con-way said unions often withdraw election petitions when they don’t believe they can secure enough votes to win.

The Orlando withdrawal marks the seventh defeat for the Teamsters Union in their attempts to organize workers at one of the nation's largest less-than-truckload carriers since their first victory at Con-way Freight  in September, when drivers and warehouse employees in Laredo, Texas voted to join the union in a narrow decision. Since that time the Teamsters has won organizing elections at a total of three Con-way Freight locations.

Despite the three wins Con-way Freight currently does not have a contract with Teamsters Union at any of its nearly 300 facilities in the U.S.

The union was rejected in previous elections at Con-way Freight facilities in Bakersfield, Santa Fe Springs and San Fernando Valley, California; Manchester, New Hampshire and Harlingen, Texas, along with previously withdrawing a petition for a vote at Con-way Freight's facility in Irvine, California.

"I want to commend our employees in Orlando for their patience, perseverance and commitment to learning the facts about the Teamsters and what they were promising," said Greg Lehmkuhl, president of Con-way Freight, "We believe that the withdrawal of the petition reflects the realization by the Teamsters that our employees in Orlando understand the value of what they have today, and recognize the advantages and opportunities they have in being union-free."

As of Thursday afternoon, the Teamsters had not released a statement on its decision to cancel the Orlando vote.

 

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