News
Local Union Leaders Endorse YRCW Tentative Agreement
Today, leaders from Teamster local unions that represent workers at YRC Worldwide Inc. (YRCW) overwhelmingly recommended to approve a tentative agreement and to send it out to the membership for a vote. The tentative agreement with YRCW, if ratified, will provide a pathway for substantial debt reduction and refinancing initiatives that will permit the company to protect and preserve more than 30,000 good American jobs.
The tentative agreement contains significant improvements over the company’s prior rejected proposal:
- Employees on seasonal layoff will be eligible for the lump sum bonus;
- The proposed wage freeze for current non-CDL employees has been eliminated;
- The starting rate for non-CDL new hires has been increased with a $1.00/hr annual progression;
- Employees subject to the attendance policy will have a “fresh start;”
- The company’s initial proposal to take away a week of vacation from employees with three weeks has been eliminated. Additionally, vacation weeks will be paid at 45 hours/week by the end of the agreement;
- The proposal regarding the use of Utility Employees has been eliminated, and
- Restrictions on the use of PTS have been specified and protections for members at affected terminals have been improved.
On Jan. 9, a ballot count revealed that an initial company proposal was soundly rejected by over 19,000 Teamster members who voted over several weeks.
“Today’s decision by local union leaders agreeing to endorse and send the tentative agreement to the membership will allow voting to take place at union halls this coming weekend,” said Tyson Johnson, Director of the Teamsters National Freight Division and Co-Chairman of the Teamsters National Freight Industry Negotiating Committee (TNFINC). “Our members made their voices heard about the company’s initial proposal, and we went back to the company and negotiated significant improvements that will give the members another opportunity to vote on saving this company. Once again, our members will decide this issue for themselves, which reflects the democratic values of our union.”
Jim Hoffa, Teamsters General President and TNFINC Co-Chairman, delivered strong remarks explaining why he supports the revised agreement.
“Since the rejection of the company’s proposal, I met with dozens of YRCW members and I have heard from thousands of others,” Hoffa said. “I came away convinced that we owed it to the members to make one last effort to save the company.”
Hoffa said the tentative agreement contains significant improvements over the company’s prior rejected proposal.
“No one wants concessions, but with a ‘yes’ vote at least we live to see another day, and I urge you to do that,” Hoffa said.
Local unions will hold membership votes this coming Saturday, January 25 and Sunday, January 26 at local union halls or other locations. Local unions will make that voting information available to members.
Additional information will be posted at www.teamster.org/yrcw as it becomes available. Here are the pertinent materials for members to review: