U.S. Senator Robert Casey Holds Press Conference at YRC Service Center in Advance of Introducing Multiemployer Pension Reform Legislation

YRC Worldwide Inc., one of the largest transportation service providers in the world, expresses strong support for legislation to be introduced in the U.S. Senate. The Create Jobs and Save Benefits Act of 2010 was outlined yesterday by Senator Robert P. Casey (D-PA.) at the YRC Worldwide facility in Harrisburg, Penn., which is the largest facility in the YRC Worldwide network. Legislation being introduced by Senator Casey will help preserve the jobs and pensions of hundreds of thousands of Americans.

The legislation sponsored by Senator Casey addresses unintended consequences of The Motor Carrier Act of 1980, the Multiemployer Pension Plan Amendments Act of 1980 and the Pension Protection Act of 2006. The Motor Carrier Act deregulated the trucking industry, while the Multiemployer Pension Plan Amendments Act required companies in multiemployer plans to pay for the benefits of retirees who never worked for them. Approximately 40 percent to 50 percent of pension contributions made by employers in many of these plans go to fund these non-sponsored participants.

"On behalf of our employees, we wish to thank Senator Casey for introducing this important multiemployer pension reform legislation and recognizing that these costs represent a huge, hidden tax on large and small businesses that are unfairly shouldering this burden," said Mike Smid, president-YRC Inc. and chief operations officer-YRC Worldwide, who appeared with the Senator at the press conference. "The legislation will protect our employees' retirements and lead to a more competitive retirement contribution system for the industry. This is an issue that has the strong backing of labor and management. This is an opportunity to protect jobs and pensions."

Congress to consider YRC pension relief

YRC Worldwide Inc.’s push to get relief for its benefits costs picked up momentum Monday as the U.S. Senate began to consider a bill that would address problems with multi-employer pension plans.

Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania said he would introduce a bill intended to protect the pension payments of retirees of failed businesses while assisting companies such as YRC, whose pension liabilities include non-YRC retirees. Full Story........

YRC Worldwide may get a break from pension woes through federal legislation

Unionized companies like YRC Worldwide Inc. may get some relief from having to provide pension benefits for people they never employed.

U.S. Sen. Robert Casey Jr., D-Pa., said Monday that he plans to introduce legislation this week that would change some of the rules controlling multiemployer pension plans, or union-operated retirement pools to which a number of different companies contribute.

YRC, along with other trucking companies, for years has contributed to plans such as the Central States Pension Fund, which cover hundreds of thousands of workers. But as companies have gone out of business or otherwise dropped out of the plans and the economy has soured investment returns, the remaining companies have seen their pension costs rise rapidly to fill the gap. Full Story.......

ABF Selects 10 Freight-handling Professionals for the 2010-2011 Load Team

ABF Freight System, Inc., has named a select group of freight-handling professionals from across ABF’s North American network for its 2010-2011 Load Team. Those chosen along with their customer service Centers are:



Gregory Allen, Dayton, Ohio
Robert Anderson Jr., Kansas City, Mo.
Jack Boseman, Atlanta
Randall Espey, Dallas
Nickola Georgiefski, Chicago
James High, Carlisle, Penn.
Kenneth Reinhart, Albuquerque, N.M.
Myron Smith, Little Rock, Ark.
Emanuel Staton, Winston-Salem, N.C.
Dale Wallis, Salt Lake City, UT

“Load Team members help to personify ABF's commitment to meeting our customers’ needs through safe and efficient freight handling,” says ABF President and Chief Executive Officer Wes Kemp. “Due to the talents of dedicated employees like these, shipping customers can trust ABF — knowing that more than 99 percent of all shipments are moved claim free.”

Load Team members are selected on the basis of their safety records, involvement in ABF’s Quality Process, integrity and their ability to load trailers in an optimal fashion – a skill that facilitates the safe, timely and efficient movement of shipments. The Load Team program was established not only to honor outstanding performance but also to draw upon dock employees’ insights regarding dock procedures and equipment.

ABF CONFERENCE CALL AUDIO AVAILABLE

ABF Teamsters dialed in to a “tele-town hall” discussion on Thursday night, March 18, 2010 to get an update on the efforts to save more than 6,000 Teamster freight jobs at ABF. Listen to the audio here.