June 25, 2009: While YRC Teamsters are discussing how to protect the company and Teamster jobs, some management people are showing a lack of concern for Teamster employees on layoff.

A certain Area Director of Operations has just issued an order that no laid-off Teamsters in his territory are to work three days in a week, and thus qualify for Central States Health and Welfare coverage. The order clearly states two days is the maximum, and that terminal management should plan carefully to make this happen.

It goes on to say not a single laid off Teamster is to get coverage unless the Area Director and two vice presidents approve.

What’s the effect of this order? By working two days, those Teamsters don’t qualify for health and welfare coverage for their family. And they get just enough pay to screw up their unemployment compensation. It is almost like working for nothing.

In the 2008 contract the Hoffa administration gave a concession to require 3 days (instead of 2) worked in a week in the Southern, Central and Carolina supplements to earn H&W coverage. Now YRC is abusing that concession to ensure that no laid off Teamster gets health coverage.

We believe Teamsters should work smart, work hard, and work safely. YRC needs to run lean. But lean doesn’t have to be mean. It seems that some management people need an attitude adjustment.