WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 3) — The Teamsters have taken their long-running dispute with Overnite Transportation Co. to the Internet.

The union is using e-mail to contact Overnite customers directly and warn them of potential job actions against the Richmond, Va.-based carrier. The Teamsters and Overnite are engaged in a years-long battle over unionization of the company’s workforce and what the union claims are unfair labor practices.

“A company prospers because their goods are delivered promptly and professionally,” the union said. “Why should Overnite’s customers become a causality of Overnite’s self-inflicted labor unrest?”

Overnite customers can sign up for the e-mail “alert service,” a newsletter delivering information on “potential unfair labor practice strikes at Overnite that could delay the delivery of their goods or products.” The service “will provide timely information to help prevent a company’s products from being frozen on a dock because of an unfair labor practice strike at Overnite,” the union said.

Customers can register at the Teamsters’ Web site. To subscribe, scroll down the page and click on “Overnite Teamsters Fight For Good Jobs.” At the Overnite-Teamster home page, scroll down and click on “Overnite Customer Labor Updates — E-mail Alerts,” fill out the form, and click “submit.”

Updates will be delivered automatically.