DETROIT (May 14) — Teamster car haulers are voting through Sunday on whether to authorize a strike that could cripple the U.S. car-hauling industry.

Votes will be counted Monday and a strike could occur after the current agreement expires May 31. Negotiations with auto-hauling companies on a new contract have been under way since February.

The union feels that employers are unfairly demanding pay cuts and other concessions, despite record profits as a strong U.S. economy continues to fuel car sales.

“Management is demanding that these hard-working men and women receive less for doing one of the most difficult jobs in the transportation industry,” said Teamsters President James Hoffa. “As profits continue to soar, the rank-and-file workers are viewed as a mere commodity by the big-dollar bosses.”

Teamster drivers deliver about 95% of new vehicles and work under a contract covering 17 companies, the largest being Allied Holdings of Decatur, Ga.

Allied Holdings, which controls about two-thirds of the U.S. car-hauling market, employs about 7500 Teamsters. It recorded revenues of $1.03 billion US last year.

In 1995, the Teamsters shut down Ryder System Inc.’s auto-transport business, now owned by Allied Holdings, for 32 days. The strike delayed delivery of more than 500,000 cars and trucks.