October 30, 2010: With the gun of a threatened shutdown aimed at their heads, YRCW Teamsters have approved new concessions and a contract extension until 2015 by a 62% margin at YRC and Holland and by 69% at New Penn. The concessions will now go into effect immediately. On June 1, 2011, members will start receiving a $1.75 per hour pension contribution. Each pension fund has to determine what this employer contribution will buy for...

October 22, 2010: Some 400 Reddaway Teamsters in Washington and Oregon are fighting to save their jobs, alongside their local union leaders. But they wonder why the International Union isn't doing more to help them. Reddaway is the western regional carrier owned by YRC. Some of its terminals are nonunion, and some are under regional white-paper Teamster contracts. The locals recently reached a tentative agreement with Reddaway, and are prepared to put to the members...

October 22, 2010: Two grievances addressing Article 44 subcontracting language were deadlocked at the recent UPS Freight national grievance meeting held in San Diego. The grievance from Reno Nevada Local 533 involves canceling a bid run and awarding the work to the non-union carrier Werner. The other, out of New York Local 707, involves management assigning road work to rail carriers and Evans Trucking. The contract calls for these grievances to go to arbitration if...

October 20, 2010: YRCW has informed the union of a change of operations to close New Penn, as part of its contingency plan if the concession vote is rejected. New Penn Teamsters, in this proposed change, would be offered only end-tail seniority status at YRC. Click here to read YRCW's letter.

October 15, 2010: Sandy Pope, a national Teamster leader and long-time reformer, has entered the race for Teamster President. In just days, her campaign has started to generate excitement and campaign action. Pope declared her candidacy at a gathering of supporters in New York on October 10: “Except for his last name, I don’t think anyone would confuse James Hoffa with his father,” said Pope. Vincent Lattimore, a member of New York Local 237 said...

October 11, 2010: Sandy Pope, a national Teamster leader and long-time reformer, has entered the race for Teamster President. Now the race for new leadership at the top of our union is wide open. Pope declared her candidacy at a gathering of supporters in New York on October 10: “Except for his last name, I don’t think anyone would confuse James Hoffa with his father,” said Pope. “We need a Teamster General President who will...

October 5, 2010: Delegates to the BLET Convention have withdrawn a resolution that would have taken away members’ Right to Vote. In August, BLET members voted three to one to save their Right to Vote. The first one-member, one-vote election for top BLET officers is scheduled for this fall. Read the report from the BLET convention below from Ron Kaminkow, a member of Division 51. BLET Elections Controversy -- Division #98 Does the Right Thing...

October 4, 2010: Thousands of YRCW Teamsters have gone to local union meetings to learn about the proposed agreement. Also, the Central States Pension Fund issued a statement indicating that the Fund intends to work out some benefits for members, if the agreement is approved. The Fund statement also indicates that no member will gain or lose anything by retiring before the agreement is ratified. Ballots will go in the mail on October 7. The...

September 30, 2010: The third UPS national panel of the year will meet October 11-14 in San Diego. Download the docket of cases that will be heard. Download the docket for the Joint National Air Committee. The UPS National Grievance Committee settles disputes and other grievances that have been deadlocked at both the local and regional levels.

UPDATED September 30, 2010: The proposed agreement between YRCW and the International Union is headed for a membership vote, with ballots going out on October 7. Members will have a lot to consider because the concessions and trade-offs in the proposed deal are complicated, and the future of YRCW is on the line. The full text of the agreement is available here. Summary of Terms The agreement with YRCW companies would be extended two years,...