Teamsters Continue Cross-Border Fight

    WASHINGTON, Aug. 31 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Plans to open the border
 to Mexican trucks this weekend were postponed until at least Thursday,
 Sept. 6.
     The Bush administration's lawyers on Thursday told the 9th Circuit
 Court of Appeals that "DOT (Department of Transportation) now anticipates
 that the Demonstration Project will not begin before Thursday, September
 6."
     Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa said the negative publicity
 generated by the union's request for an injunction forced the Bush
 administration to delay its proposed pilot program.
     "Dangerous trucks should not be driving all the way from Mexico to
 Maine and Minnesota," Hoffa said. "The American people understand that,
 Congress understands that and the Teamsters understand that. What is it
 about safety and national security that George Bush doesn't understand?"
     As one indication of the program's unpopularity, the House of
 Representatives voted 411-3 on May 15 to halt the program until safety and
 security standards were met.
     The Bush administration made no formal announcement about the expected
 start date for the controversial program. The Bush administration lawyers,
 however, told the Teamsters that Mexican trucking companies would be
 granted permission to roll across the borders on Saturday, Sept. 1.
     Reporters learned from the Teamsters that the Bush administration
 planned to open the borders to Mexican trucks on Labor Day weekend. When
 reporters tried to get a straight answer from the Department of
 Transportation, they couldn't.
     It is only in a footnote to legal papers filed Thursday, Aug. 30, that
 the Bush administration reveals its plans to open the border on Thursday,
 Sept. 6. The papers were filed in the 9th Circuit Court in response to the
 Teamsters' motion for an injunction.
     "I will continue to fight like hell to prevent Mexican trucks from
 endangering lives throughout the United States," Hoffa said. "I'm confident
 the court will side with the Teamsters and with the American people by
 blocking this program before it starts next week."
     The Teamsters will also ask Congress to block the program as soon as it
 returns from vacation.
     Founded in 1903, The International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents
 more than 1.4 million hardworking men and women.
     Note: Legal documents filed in the case can be found at
 http://www.teamster.org.
 
 

SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters

    WASHINGTON, Aug. 31 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Plans to open the border
 to Mexican trucks this weekend were postponed until at least Thursday,
 Sept. 6.
     The Bush administration's lawyers on Thursday told the 9th Circuit
 Court of Appeals that "DOT (Department of Transportation) now anticipates
 that the Demonstration Project will not begin before Thursday, September
 6."
     Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa said the negative publicity
 generated by the union's request for an injunction forced the Bush
 administration to delay its proposed pilot program.
     "Dangerous trucks should not be driving all the way from Mexico to
 Maine and Minnesota," Hoffa said. "The American people understand that,
 Congress understands that and the Teamsters understand that. What is it
 about safety and national security that George Bush doesn't understand?"
     As one indication of the program's unpopularity, the House of
 Representatives voted 411-3 on May 15 to halt the program until safety and
 security standards were met.
     The Bush administration made no formal announcement about the expected
 start date for the controversial program. The Bush administration lawyers,
 however, told the Teamsters that Mexican trucking companies would be
 granted permission to roll across the borders on Saturday, Sept. 1.
     Reporters learned from the Teamsters that the Bush administration
 planned to open the borders to Mexican trucks on Labor Day weekend. When
 reporters tried to get a straight answer from the Department of
 Transportation, they couldn't.
     It is only in a footnote to legal papers filed Thursday, Aug. 30, that
 the Bush administration reveals its plans to open the border on Thursday,
 Sept. 6. The papers were filed in the 9th Circuit Court in response to the
 Teamsters' motion for an injunction.
     "I will continue to fight like hell to prevent Mexican trucks from
 endangering lives throughout the United States," Hoffa said. "I'm confident
 the court will side with the Teamsters and with the American people by
 blocking this program before it starts next week."
     The Teamsters will also ask Congress to block the program as soon as it
 returns from vacation.
     Founded in 1903, The International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents
 more than 1.4 million hardworking men and women.
     Note: Legal documents filed in the case can be found at
 http://www.teamster.org.
 
 SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters