Working Teamsters are speaking out about the latest round of concessions at YRC and what it will take to save our union in freight.
Here’s what some of them had to say.
Is Management Working with Us To Protect Jobs?
Leroy Olsen, YRC, Local 79, Tampa, Fla.“Years ago when I was on the bottom of the board, I appreciated the days my senior brothers took off to make sure more junior men could get work. But now I can’t follow their example. YRC management insists on forced overtime and starves our laid-off brothers and sisters of work and benefits to save the company money.
“YRC wants more givebacks but management needs to learn that working with and supporting all Teamsters is much more valuable in the long run than just working out a deal with our officers. If YRC is to survive, it is the working Teamsters that will make it happen.”
Leroy Olsen, YRC, Local 79, Tampa, Fla.
One-Man Wrecking Crew
“Zollars is a one-man wrecking crew. I have no faith in him or this deal.”
Don Davenport, USF Reddaway, Local 962, Roseburg, Ore.
Wasting Money on Pro Golfers
“Is YRC ending it’s sponsorship of PGA golfer Jim Furyk or is our 15 percent giveback continuing to pay those millions?”
Jeffrey Acord, YRC, Local 377, Youngstown, Ohio
[Editor’s Note: In June, YRCW signed a $6 million contract with Jim Furyk to wear a YRC logo on the left chest of his golf shirt.]
We Need a Union Plan For ABF and Freight
Marion Gresham, ABF, Local 728, Atlanta“ABF management is chomping at the bit to get what they can off the YRC concessions. Our future can’t be about Teamsters giving and giving until nothing is left of a decent contract.
“We need a union plan to dig us out of this hole. It starts with recognizing that we can’t just follow everything management wants. What’s our Teamster agenda for survival?”
Marion Gresham, ABF, Local 728, Atlanta
Organize the Nonunion Competition
“This bogus crap is an affront to all Teamsters. This is the outcome of Jr. Hoffa’s lack of guts and his administration’s inability to organize all the non-union LTL carriers like FedEx Freight, ConWay, Estes, etc. The IBT Organizing Department should be fired and ‘fresh idea’ rank-and-file organizers should be hired and given the resources to promote the benefits of union membership.”
Dennis Anderson, CF (Retired), Local 413, Columbus, Ohio
Constant Mismanagement
“Day in and day out you see constant mismanagement. Excessive delay and layover time as well as dispatch errors are causing countless wasteful dollars. Management doesn’t seem to have a sense of urgency or an effective utilization for the help. Why should we pay for bad management decisions?”
Nick Brandon, YRC, Local 695, La Crosse, Wis.
A Dollar a Day for Zollars
“Why aren’t Zollars and the higher executives forced to reduce their salaries and give up all bonuses until the rank and file are made whole? Zollars should volunteer to take a dollar annual salary until the company returns to profitability. I have not and will not vote for a reduction of any kind until the management greed ends and our hard earned benefits and dignity are restored.”
Bob Sayer, YRC, Local 251, Providence, R.I.
Jeff Watz, YRC, Local 7, Kalamazoo, Mich.Hoffa Has to Go
“James P. Hoffa Jr. has overstayed his welcome.
“It’s time to go, Jimmy, before you give away the rest of the farm.”
Jeff Watz, YRC, Local 7, Kalamazoo, Mich.
What Do You Think?
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