I'll tell you why so many "Old Timers" don't retire. I worked for Yellow Freight, then YRC, since 1981 full-time. I worked casual for two years before that. I was almost to the 30 year mark when the 18 month "deferment" of pension payments began. I ended up HAVING to retire in August due to an injury. My "cushy" pension is a whopping $1900 a month, minus COBRA payments of $1212 a month. Since I and my family cannot live on less than $700 per month, we no longer have health insurance. I'm 52, unable to work, no insurance, and still have teenagers at home. My wife is also unable to work due to health problems. We always got by as cheaply as possible, but we were okay until I had to leave work. We still have a mortgage, utilities, groceries, etc. to pay for. If this passes and Central States declares the pension fund to be in default, they will cut out "early retirement". That means NO income or insurance, etc. I was raised to work hard and actually "earn" my pay. I've done that all my life. Now the company I was so proud to work for doesn't care if I end up on welfare. We were promised all those years that if we took less of a raise, money would be put aside for retirement. We agreed to the company's "plan" and now, when I need to collect MY money, POOF! it's gone! I held up to MY end of the deal, but they didn't. The pension isn't a GIFT! It's a hard-won right paid for by ALL Teamsters who receive a paycheck. It was supposed to be like depositing money in the bank, (the money we negotiated to allow to be put aside for a pension, instead of in pay raises), yet someone withdrew the money before I "qualified" to receive a portion of MY OWN MONEY. I've received exactly ONE pension check, and now they're asking for a YES vote so they don't have to pay us "Old Timers" any more. Also, I have a lot of friends still working. It makes me very angry to see how greedy this company has become. It used to be "a fair day's work for a fair day's pay". Now with all the work rules changed, no pension paid in, extending 15% pay cut until 2015, etc., it's "a fair day's work, and THEY keep your pay". The stock market analysts are predicting a "bear market" is about to begin. Do you think when the economy gets better that YRC will give back all you gave up? Not likely! What have they done with all the money you already gave up? They're paying you 15% less, NOT paying pension payments, sold terminals, equipment, etc., layed off half the combined companies, got deferments on loans, did the stock swaps, etc. and STILL can't make it and are asking for MORE ?? The employees are NOT the problem. As someone else said, HELL NO !
