February 16, 2012: YRC’s proposed mega-change of operations, now scheduled for a hearing on March 14-15 in Kansas City, violates seniority. The union has every right to “just say no” until this issue is addressed, and jobs and seniority protected.

The proposed change is designed to close most end-of-line road boards, end utility employees, and transfer as much short haul freight as possible to Holland, New Penn, and (mostly nonunion) Reddaway.

Unlike most changes of operations, instead of putting workers at losing terminals into a pool for bidding purposes, the majority of jobs in this proposal are tagged as “follow-the-work.” For example, Columbus is slated to lose 64 road jobs, but zero of those drivers, regardless of seniority, could go into the pool bidding, and (for example) choose to move to Atlanta. Those 64 are slated to choose among five terminals, in a specified number of slots at each.

This violates precedents, undermines seniority, and raises unanswered questions. For example, what if the 14 “follow their work” slots designated from Columbus to Indianapolis (Local 135) don’t fill? Local 135 could take the position that no bidders from the pool should be allowed to bid into their terminal because these bidders would not be following “their work”.

With so many jobs and so much disruption of lives on the line, these issues need to be dealt with.

You can download or view a copy of the proposed service restructure change and a copy of the proposed elimination of utility operation. There is also an addendum (corrections) to the service restructure change.