Teamsters, ABF Continue 'Difficult and Complex' Negotiations

The Teamsters National Freight Industry Negotiating Committee (TNFINC) concluded another week of negotiations with ABF Freight Systems, Inc.

Negotiations continue to be difficult and the company continues to seek significant concessions in both economic and non-economic matters. TNFINC is continuing to try to seek ways to address the company's legitimate competitive and operational needs while at the same time protecting good middle class jobs and standards.

"These negotiations are difficult and complex," said Gordon Sweeton, Co-Chairman of the National ABF Negotiating Committee for TMFINC.  "We understand the company needs some relief. However, we are not willing to let the company destroy the standards we have fought for and established. While we have made some progress this week, much remains to be done. Fortunately, we have a skilled and talented bargaining team that understands the freight industry so we remain hopeful that an agreement can be reached sometime this month.

Negotiations will continue the week of March 25. Some progress was also made in negotiating local and area supplements.

Local union leaders should pay close attention to updates and be prepared to participate in conference calls as developments occur

Teamsters want to review YRC Worldwide's proposed changes

Officials with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters say they want to further review trucking firm YRC Freight's proposed change of operations request before members take any action.

The labor union is advising members not to schedule meetings on the proposal until further notice, the Kansas City Business Journal reports.

The company proposal for a consolidation in YRC Freight calls for a reduction of 760 dock, cartage, shop and office jobs, along with 452 road jobs at locations that will be closed or reduced, while adding 639 cartage and 343 road jobs at other terminals.

About 130 St. Louis drivers, mechanics and clerical workers employed by YRC Freight stand to lose their jobs under the plan, which calls for the closure of a St. Louis truck terminal.

YRC Freight is part of Overland Park, Kan.-based YRC Worldwide, which reported 2012 consolidated operating revenue of $4.85 billion.

UPS Freight Reopens Nanuet Service Center

This is part of an ongoing effort to improve service to customers and maintain an efficient network throughout the Northeast

Those who like to shop online or ship/receive a lot of items, expect that dark brown truck to be making more efficient deliveries.

As part of an ongoing effort to improve service to customers and maintain an efficient network throughout the Northeast, UPS Freight reopened its service center in Nanuet on Monday.

The Nanuet Service Center, located at 80 W. Nyack Rd., is positioned near several major thoroughfares, including the New York State Thruway, Palisades Interstate Parkway and New Jersey's Garden State Parkway. It also is located near Routes 59 and 304.

The existing 32-door Nanuet facility was closed in 2005 after UPS Freight opened a new service center in Newburgh. However, a recent evaluation of shipment volume as well as the number of miles driven for pickups and deliveries in the area pointed to the need to re-establish the Nanuet facility.

"There are two reasons UPS Freight decided to reopen our Nanuet facility - and they also are two of our company's cornerstone—service and sustainability," said Jack Holmes, president of UPS Freight. "Re-establishing our physical presence in Nanuet allows us to offer earlier service to many of our customers in the area while reducing the number of miles we're driving to reach those customers. We're looking forward to continued growth in the Northeast and having the Nanuet terminal back in business will help us achieve that goal."

The facility employs about 30 people, and its service area includes White Plains, Yonkers and New Rochelle, Mahwah, Ramsey, Northvale and Emerson, and Stamford, Norwalk and Greenwich.

YRC Freight proposes network improvements to union leadership

YRC Freight has mailed to union leadership a proposal for a new set of network improvements

Once implemented, the network improvements will be another step in YRC Freight's efforts to continuously improve customer service, optimize linehaul density and load average, reduce empty miles and reduce shipment handling.

"By realigning our network, YRC Freight will reduce the number of handling and relay locations to build network density," said Jeff Rogers, president of YRC Freight. "These network improvements will be seamless to our customers and when implemented, will improve our service. Our continuing effort to optimize our network is also a key part of our sustainability efforts as we reduce mileage and emissions. Better density means fewer empty miles and less emissions."

A committee composed of union and company leadership will convene a formal hearing—expected to occur in April 2013—to consider the network improvements, which are expected to begin in May 2013.

"This is all about improving customer service and taking another step to regain a lead position in the North American LTL market," added Rogers. "This change also moves us closer to sustained profitability."

Talks Between ABF, Teamsters to Continue

Negotiations between ABF Freight System Inc. and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters will resume next week.

Both entities released statements in advance of resuming talks Monday, noting that they were getting closer to reaching an agreement. ABF, a subsidiary of Fort Smith’s Arkansas Best Corp., noted in a release that negotiations could be extended past the March 31 expiration of their existing deal as long as they continue to work together in “good faith.”

“Through hard bargaining on both sides of the table, we are comprehensively addressing the first set of substantive issues on various operational needs to help ABF better compete,” the ABF statement said.

“Work on those operational issues continues and we look forward to continued discussions in the coming weeks on specific economic terms that remain.”  Full Story.......