November 24, 2009: YRC has sold a specialized unit within YRC Logistics to Greatwide Logistics Services for $34 million, in a move to raise cash and downsize YRC's footprint. The contract carriage unit primarily serves five large customers, and accounts for about 15% of YRC Logistics' revenue. YRC will retain the great majority of the YRC Logistics operation. Read more about the sale here.

November 23, 2009: To hear less-than-truckload carrier ABF Freight System tell it, the carrier and the Teamsters union are discussing a proposal aimed at wringing wage concessions and pension payment deferrals out of ABF's unionized employees. To hear the Teamsters tell it, nothing of the sort is taking place. Click here to read more at DC Velocity.

November 20, 2009: Some 700 Teamsters employed at Allied in Ontario and Quebec voted today to leave our union and join the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW). The unfortunate choice came after Canadian carhaulers became alienated from the Teamster officialdom. Drivers and mechanics voted by 383-183 for the CAW, and Allied’s office workers voted by 21-4. The Teamster officialdom made only minimal efforts to retain the carhaulers, who wanted assurance that their pension would remain under...

November 20, 2009: Ed Rodzwicz, the President of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen of the IBT, stepped down today after he was arrested last month for taking a $20,000 bribe. Rodzwicz allegedly solicited a $20,000 bribe for an attorney in exchange for letting the attorney remain on the union’s list of designated legal counsel for injury cases. He was arrested on Oct. 12. Rodzwicz became president of the BLET after Don Hahs embezzled...

Teamster members can win new rights by changing your local’s bylaws. In most locals January is the time to act. Over the years, members have won many new rights by changing their bylaws, including: The right to elect stewards Rank-and-file members on contract negotiating committees, and rank-and-file access to bargaining proposals Salary caps for local union officers and local organizing funds Mail-in ballots for local union elections Access to benefit information from their local union...

November 18, 2009. The International Union today issued a statement flatly denying ABF management’s claim that the company expects to “reach an agreement soon” on concessions similar to those that YRC got from the union. The IBT statement appeared over the name of Freight Director Tyson Johnson. It states that: “According to a November 17 article on the Journal of Commerce website titled ‘Trucker ABF, Teamsters in Concession Talks’ ABF Chief Operating Officer Wesley Kemp...

November 17, 2009: Less-than-truckload carrier ABF Freight System is deep in talks with the Teamsters union to win concessions similar to those the union gave financially troubled competitor YRC Worldwide, including an overhaul of the company’s pension system, the carrier said. Click here to read more at The Journal of Commerce. What do you think? Click here to send your comments to the TDU Freight Committee.

November 17, 2009: Helen Green, the president of Las Vegas Teamster Local 995, has filed suit in federal court, charging that the Local 995 secretary-treasurer demanded that she continue a sexual relationship with him to keep her job as a business agent. The sexual harassment suit was filed on Nov. 12 against Local 995, Joint Council 42 and the International Union. The basis of her claim against Joint Council 42 and the IBT is that...

November 16, 2009: The president of a local Teamsters union filed a federal lawsuit Friday that claims her supervisor used his position to coerce her into a sexual relationship with him. Helen Green, 49, filed the lawsuit against Teamsters Local 995, Teamsters Joint Council 42 and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. Click here to read more at Review Journal.

November 16, 2009: YRC will consolidate road and breakbulk operations in the Cleveland-Akron area. The company wants to close the Richfield Ohio breakbulk and move road and dock operations to the former Roadway terminal in Copley, Ohio. The move affects some 1,000 Teamsters at three terminals; over 400 of them are presently laid off. Members are concerned about seniority issues, bidding procedures, work rule changes, job qualifications, and other issues. The time for members’ voice...