YRC Worldwide's Canadian subsidiary, YRC Reimer, formerly known as Reimer Express, closed its operations in Edmonton, Alberta, after Teamster employees there refused wage and benefit reductions, the Edmonton Sun reports.
YRC Reimer President Clayton Gording told the newspaper 55 to 60 truck drivers and warehouse workers would be affected. The vast majority of Reimer's employees accepted wage and benefits cuts, he told the Sun. "It's a tough economy and people have to realize this," he said.
Teamsters at U.S. national LTL carrier YRC and regional subsidiaries Holland and New Penn agreed to cumulative wage cuts of 15 percent and an 18 month suspension of pension contributions. YRC Worldwide employs about 35,000 Teamsters.
Reimer is a less-than-truckload carrier operating throughout Canada. Earlier this month, U.S. national LTL carrier YRC and YRC Reimer enhanced service by reducing transit times in 5,500 cross-border lanes.
In an effort to attract shippers, YRC and YRC Reimer is also providing free customs brokerage when new customers book guaranteed or expedited shipments to or from Canada. The two subsidiaries recently combined their Web sites.
Contact William B. Cassidy at wcassidy@joc.com.