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Union must save existing jobs while organizing new companies, Hoffa says
The Teamsters are ready to put the muscle they used against Wall Street to help YRC Worldwide into action against fresh opponents, says General President James P. Hoffa.
"We took on the big banks to save YRCW and we're going to keep taking on big companies like Coca-Cola," Hoffa told representatives from more than 200 Teamsters locals in the brewery and beverage industries today in Washington.
Hoffa underscored the need to save existing Teamster jobs while organizing new companies, including FedEx. "There is one (labor) law for FedEx and another law for UPS," he said, referring to the Railway Labor Act and National Labor Relations Act.
"We need to level the playing field and when we do that we're going to organize 100,000 workers at FedEx," Hoffa said. He also targeted automobile manufacturers accused of shifting work from union carhaulers to nonunion competitors.
"They want to save a few bucks by getting rid of good Teamster jobs and we've said no way," said Hoffa. The Teamsters enlisted the United Auto Workers in its campaign against the automakers, protesting at auto shows and in Washington.
While hailing recent organizing successes at Continental Airlines and other companies, Hoffa stressed the importance of the union's efforts to help YRC Worldwide survive and save 35,000 Teamster jobs at its national and regional trucking companies.
"I was recently on a dock talking to Holland drivers and they told me that it's been hard but they're glad to have these good jobs," Hoffa said. "But it hasn't been easy. Our members made tremendous sacrifices. And we took on the big banks -- Goldman Sachs, UBS and others -- and we saved 35,000 good Teamster jobs."
The Teamsters last year agreed to a 15 percent wage cut and an 18-month suspension of pension contributions in return for a stake in YRC Worldwide and an unprecedented voice in the company's management as the company struggled to avoid bankruptcy.
The Teamsters union then stepped into YRC Worldwide's battle to complete a debt-for-equity exchange in December, accusing investment banks of creating a market for derivatives that would profit from the collapse of the multi-billion dollar trucking outfit.
Some of those banks reportedly responded by buying up notes from YRC bondholders and tendering them in the exchange, helping the company meet its Dec. 30 deadline.
Contact William B. Cassidy at wcassidy@joc.com.
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Who is this freightanalyst guy?? I have been reading his nonsense for months and he can't even proofread his own vitriol as he spews his anti-union rhetoric across the site. We all have to work together these days and quit being haters. My union President made it loud and VERY clear that we as working YRCW Teamsters will do WHATEVER it takes to save our great companies and I fully agree with him. My company is an absolutely outstanding example of a well-working partnership between Union and Management and we as Holland employees take great pride in working for the best LTL company there is. Instead of all his whining and doomsaying Mr. freightanalyst should just ask a few of us or even Bill Zollars and Co. if we haven't ALL pitched in, put our best foot forward and worked for the common good!! Give it up dude and post your nonsense on Twitter. This is a serious site.
- By Proud Holland Worker on 2/24/10
Teamsters,
ruining Americas work place 1 job at a time. Look at the rules they have imposed at Yellow Roadway they are on the bring of financial disaster.
- By freightanalyst on 2/22/10
GO TEAMSTERS! I have been a member for 30 yrs, at first we were strong and as the yrs have past it has been loosing members to the right to work law, keep strong and keep fighting for our members they need you.
- By maninblack59 on 2/21/10
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Freighanalyst is exactly right. The unions have pushed YRC to the brink of bankruptcy, but they are there for you! Sure thing! Mr. Proud Holland Worker, if you think Freightanalyst is the only one who think unions are destroying good companies, look around you. You members are starting to wise up and they are falling like flies. If you had any sense, you would wise up and realize the same. YRC is still not out of the woods my friend. You customers are still running for the hills.
I work for a transportation company and about half of the carrier profiles that we have to submit back to major companies prior to doing business asks the following question: "Is your company unionized? If so, what percentage of your drivers are union members?" I have asked several of my contacts why they ask that question and it is because major shippers shy away from dealing with unionized carriers. You are a dying breed. Hang in there!