After the Teamster strike in 1994, Roadway Express was spun off by the parent company Roadway Services.
Many thought Roadway Express was spun off to die. But the opposite happen. Roadway Express under the leadership of Michael Wickham prospered. The company and it's Teamster employees started working together with a new program called Empowerment. Teamsters working without supervision. Where I worked Albuquerque, we Teamsters ran all the dock shifts entirely on our own. After the buyout in 2002? things still went well. After the merger talk in late 2008 I decided it was time to go. My retirement stated 06/01/2009 at age 58. If not for the buyout, based on how things were going with Roadway Express, who knows where they would be today. Myself I would of stayed around longer.
I left at 62 and a half. I had to be of age. And get my ducks in a row.
Get all paid off and no debt to leave. I (we) did that. I can't say I. My wife was a huge part in getting it done.
Had it stayed Roadway and with the program you mentioned no doubt I would have stayed. No doubt. It was the best thing they could have done. Let us run it at our level. We did a damn good job.
Example....
Now. If you have a full trailer going 200 miles south of our terminal.
One bill. They still send it to okc or Memphis. Take it 2 - 400 miles north and then send it back. Why? They would never do that back then. Never.
That. Is just the tip of the iceberg. And this is the type of reasoning that drove me mad. But it was out of my hands up until I could control my own future. They can send it to Alaska and back now I wouldn't care. Lol.
People. Shippers. Even after 10 plus years do not know who yrc is.
That in itself is a joke. Even us lowlike dock know that they should have rebranded one way or another. Not yrc (what a dumb ass name anyway) . They had two to choose from. And we still see both.
Yellow tractors and Roadway trailers. And vice versa. 10 years and it's still like this.
You did the right thing. Leaving when you did. It's an embarament to say I worked for them. At least the ten years.
I know a few who are your age when you left and have well over thirty years and are stuck. Too young to go. And no where to go if they did. One needs insurance for his wife's cancer. He's stuck and hates it but endures the situation for his wife.
One other I know is in the same situation. 68 years old less than 30 years. But collecting all benefits and was going to retire but his wife came down with cancer the same month he was to retire. She is ok now. But won't be declared free of it for five years. He will be 73 when he leaves.
I took the cuts and the chance. There is life after yrc. Just have to have balls to do it if you have the time and age. It's not an easy decision. But I've had harder ones. I've never been happier to be old enough. Lol.
Things happen in life that aren't pleasant. That's what some are afraid of. Something happening if they retire. If something does happen to one of us now that I have. We will deal with whatever is dealt. The days move on with or without us.
You did the right thing mud. Had I the time I would have left then too. And not let my mind be poisoned any longer with the pettiness and bs that goes with the place day to day.
I wish the best to the New Penn office people.
This may be a blessing in disguise.
I would hope they use it to their advantage.