Other then NOW, it is documented and not rumors...KK
What goes around...comes around?
You know what they say about rumors.
God. I really hate those words,velocity center.....What goes around...comes around?
Roadway, Yellow, Holland Push Changes of Operation
Posted on News by Teamsters For A Democratic Union Tdu · May 01, 2008 8:36 AM
May 1, 2008: Roadway, Yellow and Holland have all submitted changes of operations that mark the beginning of the new “utility driver” model. Hundreds of road and city jobs would be eliminated and converted to the utility employee classification. No doubt more will follow this initial change.
Each of the three changes establishes 12 “velocity centers” throughout the East, South, and Midwest aimed at reducing transit time for up to 25 percent of all shipments.
Reportedly, ABF will submit a utility employee change soon.
The hearings will be held in mid-May, where the union can approve, deny, or approve with modifications. The time to get reasonable protections for Teamster jobs is now.
No Restrictions?
Many Teamsters have reacted with anger, since the International Union sold the contract proposal by arguing this kind of change could not happen. The January 15 Teamster Freight Update states that: “The UE will handle next-day and second-day freight exclusively, in a designated part of the terminal.”
But now the carriers seem to want no restriction on what is UE freight.
“The UE will not replace ‘meet-and-turn’ runs or existing long haul turn runs.” But now this change would replace turn runs with UEs.
“The UE will not be used to replace or eliminate employees in the existing LTL operations.” But this change calls for many existing employees to move or take a layoff.
Other contract bulletins issued by the International Union repeated these same claims.
Unfortunately, the actual UE contract language in Article 3, Section 7 gives wide latitude to the employers. Now is the time, with the first of such changes, to get the language clarified in a way that gives some protection to Teamsters and local unions.
If the companies get complete freedom to designate any and all freight to be UE freight, any contract protections may be impossible to enforce.
Time to Push for Limits
Dock workers at breakbulks could be sitting at home while UE employees are working the dock. Locals could be played against one another.
What does it mean for foreign power courtesy, when road drivers may be in bed where UEs are dispatched to run into the road driver’s home terminal?
Without any limit on what is UE freight, in the future road drivers could be an endangered species.
There are many issues to address. It’s time for the union leadership to take a hard look at our ability to enforce the contract and protect jobs in the future. By sitting down the carriers now, and getting some written guidelines Teamsters can live with, we can go a long way to protect our members and contract, while allowing the carriers to implement their changes.
If YRC doesn’t want to negotiate reasonable guidelines, there is no reason to rush to approve their proposed changes. They’ve wanted to break down Teamster classifications for many years. They can wait another month if that is what it takes for our union to get reasonable guarantees that freight Teamsters need.
and
Union Reviews YRC’s Changes
Posted on News by Teamsters For A Democratic Union Tdu · May 16, 2008 1:35 PM
May 16, 2008: At hearings on May 12-13, the Teamster Freight Division heard Yellow, Roadway and Holland present proposed changes of operations to take advantage of new freight contract language. A few locals spoke out forcefully to include protections for the jobs and seniority of Teamsters, while allowing the companies to use the new “utility employee” language of the contract.
Harrisburg Local 776, a freight local with two large breakbulks, came well prepared to question the companies. As one comment posted on the internet bulletin board TruckingBoards put it, they “kicked some *** for the working class.” They were backed up by a few freight locals, including Lancaster Local 771, Atlanta Local 728, and St. Louis Local 600.
Most locals apparently didn’t raise any issues or question the company. The decision is up to the freight division; a final answer is expected next week.
Issues raised by some local leaders include:
Delay Implementation of Change?
- Protecting the rights of recently laid-off Teamsters. The companies proposed that anyone on layoff as of April 1 (Yellow and USF Holland) or April 11 (Roadway) be excluded from the active bidding pool. Under pressure from the concerned local leaders, this may be adjusted to allow laid-off Teamsters into the pool.
- Protecting the seniority of dock and cartage workers. What is a “larger facility,” where the contract language (Article 3, Section 7) requires a division in the terminal between the utility employee (UE) area and the regular freight?
- It was agreed on the record that any freight (not just expedited freight) can be utility, without restriction. This flatly contradicts promises made in writing by the International Union to sell the contract.
- The issue of “follow the work.” Instead of a normal bidding pool, as in other changes of operations, the company wants to restrict bidding locally, using a “follow the work” principle. This would save YRC some moving expense but weaken seniority rights.
- Protecting the rights of road drivers. One issue is foreign power courtesy. Can a UE pull freight to a terminal where a road driver is rested from that terminal without a violation? Another issue is protecting the work of road drivers on meet-and-turns.
- The issue of UEs being used to take the work of higher seniority dock hands. If work is slow, UEs could come into a break terminal and work six or more hours on the dock, even if dock workers are on layoff status at that terminal.
Reportedly there may be some delay in implementation of the changes. The bid may be in late June and the implementation date may be in late July. One problem: how will they have time to train the dock workers who bid on UE positions?
That one didn't work and the following one which eliminated it didn't work. Go figure!
This is exactly what ABF is doing now. No restrictions on UE. It was initially was supposed to be a four day work week. Now they changed it so they can work five days a week and in turn never touch the dock. Totally a bait and switch.What goes around...comes around?
Roadway, Yellow, Holland Push Changes of Operation
Posted on News by Teamsters For A Democratic Union Tdu · May 01, 2008 8:36 AM
May 1, 2008: Roadway, Yellow and Holland have all submitted changes of operations that mark the beginning of the new “utility driver” model. Hundreds of road and city jobs would be eliminated and converted to the utility employee classification. No doubt more will follow this initial change.
Each of the three changes establishes 12 “velocity centers” throughout the East, South, and Midwest aimed at reducing transit time for up to 25 percent of all shipments.
Reportedly, ABF will submit a utility employee change soon.
The hearings will be held in mid-May, where the union can approve, deny, or approve with modifications. The time to get reasonable protections for Teamster jobs is now.
No Restrictions?
Many Teamsters have reacted with anger, since the International Union sold the contract proposal by arguing this kind of change could not happen. The January 15 Teamster Freight Update states that: “The UE will handle next-day and second-day freight exclusively, in a designated part of the terminal.”
But now the carriers seem to want no restriction on what is UE freight.
“The UE will not replace ‘meet-and-turn’ runs or existing long haul turn runs.” But now this change would replace turn runs with UEs.
“The UE will not be used to replace or eliminate employees in the existing LTL operations.” But this change calls for many existing employees to move or take a layoff.
Other contract bulletins issued by the International Union repeated these same claims.
Unfortunately, the actual UE contract language in Article 3, Section 7 gives wide latitude to the employers. Now is the time, with the first of such changes, to get the language clarified in a way that gives some protection to Teamsters and local unions.
If the companies get complete freedom to designate any and all freight to be UE freight, any contract protections may be impossible to enforce.
Time to Push for Limits
Dock workers at breakbulks could be sitting at home while UE employees are working the dock. Locals could be played against one another.
What does it mean for foreign power courtesy, when road drivers may be in bed where UEs are dispatched to run into the road driver’s home terminal?
Without any limit on what is UE freight, in the future road drivers could be an endangered species.
There are many issues to address. It’s time for the union leadership to take a hard look at our ability to enforce the contract and protect jobs in the future. By sitting down the carriers now, and getting some written guidelines Teamsters can live with, we can go a long way to protect our members and contract, while allowing the carriers to implement their changes.
If YRC doesn’t want to negotiate reasonable guidelines, there is no reason to rush to approve their proposed changes. They’ve wanted to break down Teamster classifications for many years. They can wait another month if that is what it takes for our union to get reasonable guarantees that freight Teamsters need.
and
Union Reviews YRC’s Changes
Posted on News by Teamsters For A Democratic Union Tdu · May 16, 2008 1:35 PM
May 16, 2008: At hearings on May 12-13, the Teamster Freight Division heard Yellow, Roadway and Holland present proposed changes of operations to take advantage of new freight contract language. A few locals spoke out forcefully to include protections for the jobs and seniority of Teamsters, while allowing the companies to use the new “utility employee” language of the contract.
Harrisburg Local 776, a freight local with two large breakbulks, came well prepared to question the companies. As one comment posted on the internet bulletin board TruckingBoards put it, they “kicked some *** for the working class.” They were backed up by a few freight locals, including Lancaster Local 771, Atlanta Local 728, and St. Louis Local 600.
Most locals apparently didn’t raise any issues or question the company. The decision is up to the freight division; a final answer is expected next week.
Issues raised by some local leaders include:
Delay Implementation of Change?
- Protecting the rights of recently laid-off Teamsters. The companies proposed that anyone on layoff as of April 1 (Yellow and USF Holland) or April 11 (Roadway) be excluded from the active bidding pool. Under pressure from the concerned local leaders, this may be adjusted to allow laid-off Teamsters into the pool.
- Protecting the seniority of dock and cartage workers. What is a “larger facility,” where the contract language (Article 3, Section 7) requires a division in the terminal between the utility employee (UE) area and the regular freight?
- It was agreed on the record that any freight (not just expedited freight) can be utility, without restriction. This flatly contradicts promises made in writing by the International Union to sell the contract.
- The issue of “follow the work.” Instead of a normal bidding pool, as in other changes of operations, the company wants to restrict bidding locally, using a “follow the work” principle. This would save YRC some moving expense but weaken seniority rights.
- Protecting the rights of road drivers. One issue is foreign power courtesy. Can a UE pull freight to a terminal where a road driver is rested from that terminal without a violation? Another issue is protecting the work of road drivers on meet-and-turns.
- The issue of UEs being used to take the work of higher seniority dock hands. If work is slow, UEs could come into a break terminal and work six or more hours on the dock, even if dock workers are on layoff status at that terminal.
Reportedly there may be some delay in implementation of the changes. The bid may be in late June and the implementation date may be in late July. One problem: how will they have time to train the dock workers who bid on UE positions?
