February 10, 2009: Thousands of Yellow and Roadway Teamsters are being asked to make big decisions about their future, and in many cases without much information.
Bidding in this change of operation means deciding where you may move your family, or where your seniority will let you earn enough to support your family. That’s one of the biggest decisions a person can make.
But in many cases, Teamsters are being asked to make a decision in the dark, with less information than you would expect to have if you were buying an iPod—and certainly less than has been made available in previous changes.
The local bidding has already ended in many locals and will soon end in others. The national pool bid will be early next week.
The International Union Freight Division has been MIA on this issue. Many Teamsters have said to us, “I get more information from my terminal manager than from my union.”
Teamsters are being asked to build a giant new carrier, YRC, after taking pay concessions and losing 1,000 more jobs in the merger process.
We think those Teamsters deserve better treatment in their job bidding at this critical time. And we think Teamster officials who have forgotten who they work for need to be replaced.
What do you think? Contact the TDU Freight Committee.