YRC Worldwide Inc. has announced the successful conclusion of labor contract negotiations with the full ratification of a five-year labor agreement for three of its operating companies. Employees from the YRCW companies of YRC Freight, Holland, and New Penn—who are represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and covered by a National Master Freight Agreement (NMFA) turned out in record numbers earlier this month to vote for the new master agreement. On May 3, 2019, the national economic vote was overwhelmingly approved along with 26 of 27 local supplements. On May 14, 2019, the final supplemental agreement was approved. The new labor agreement, which covers approximately 24,000 employees, goes into effect immediately, with economic improvements applying retroactively to April 1, 2019 and running through March 31, 2024.
“The ratification of the contract is good for our employees, our shareholders, and our customers. Having a five-year agreement is a very positive event for YRC Worldwide, supporting a more market-competitive wage and benefit package for our employees while providing operational benefits that will allow us to provide reliable and efficient services to our customers,” said Darren Hawkins, YRC Worldwide Chief Executive Officer.
A few of the contract highlights include:
- Wage increases in each year of the contract, beginning April 1, 2019 through 2023
- Continuation of existing health and welfare coverage, with predictable employer-contribution rates in each of the 5 years beginning August 1, 2019
- Restoration of an additional one-week of vacation for certain employees
- Increased ability to utilize purchased transportation for YRC Freight and Holland
- Increased use of lower-wage, non-CDL and part-time positions to improve employee availability and permit CDL-qualified drivers additional opportunities to drive
- Expanded use of smaller equipment, or box trucks, instead of costly third-party carriers to deliver freight
- Increased ability to utilize available Department of Transportation (DOT) hours of service
- A newly structured profit-sharing bonus program for employees
“In addition to creating a unique opportunity for YRCW to make investments in the near-term, the ratified contract also positions the Company to improve our profitability in 2020 and beyond by taking full advantage of the new operational tools provided for in the contract, in addition to the implementation of our ongoing network optimization plan,” Hawkins said.
“We are pleased with the record voter turnout and overwhelming support of the new agreement by our employees. I want to thank each and every one of our 31,000 employees for their continued hard work and dedication. I am confident that the new operational opportunities approved in this contract plus our ability to continue to attract and retain top-notch employees will solidify a very positive future for YRCW,” Hawkins said.
