Contract Increases Wages, Improves Pensions, Helps
Organizing Efforts
August 6, 2007
(Washington, D.C.) – Newly organized USF Reddaway [NASDAQ: YRCW] workers have
overwhelmingly ratified a five-year contract that will significantly improve
their wages, pensions, health care and other benefits, Teamsters General
President Jim Hoffa announced today.
The drivers and dockworkers at the freight company voted 216-13 this past
weekend to ratify the contract, which is retroactive to February 12, 2007.
“By ratifying this contract, the newly organized workers now have a more
secure future,” Hoffa said. “We are now organizing more Reddaway workers who are
seeking that same security.”
The agreement covers about 425 workers who recently chose to join the
Teamsters through card-check at seven former USF Bestway terminals in
California, Arizona and New Mexico. USF Reddaway has since merged with USF
Bestway. About 2,000 other Reddaway workers are eligible to join the union.
The five-year agreement also improves the workers’ health and welfare
benefits, eliminates a co-pay for health coverage, improves vacation time,
provides a safety bonus incentive plan, and provides card-check recognition as
spelled out in the union’s National Master Freight Agreement.
“This strong first contract includes strong card-check language and our
organizing efforts at the nonunion terminals are in full swing,” said Tyson
Johnson, Director of the Teamsters National Freight Division. “We will organize
the remaining drivers and dockworkers at USF Reddaway and provide them with the
same strong voice.”
Founded in 1903, the Teamsters Union represents more than 1.4 million
hardworking men and women in the United States and Canada.