I am going to say this and it will not be popular, but many of you guys already know this deep down.
The Union really does not have that much leverage come contract time anymore. It is all grand and boisterous to state full rate or lock the gate, but in reality that’s exactly a huge possibility.
The Union for the most part is dependent on YRC/Holland/New Penn in the freight division, they are the Last of the big’s And they will do what is necessary to keep that revenue coming in.
Not to long ago our BA let it slip that we would not be allowed to strike when we brought up why we are still paying extra towards the strike fund. In reality IF a strike occurred it would spell the death nail to the company.
Companies are already dissatisfied with the service that these companies have offered over the last few years, many shippers have already moved on to other carriers and not to long ago I remember seeing on BOL’s “do not ship on YRC or YRC companies”. The reputation for this place has been tarnished hopefully not beyond repair, but darn close. And no I don’t blame the rank and file because we have had to endure so much waste and confusion by those in charge. The rolling stock even with some of the infusion of newer units looks like a junkyard on wheels. YRC still is driving around Roadway tractors pulling Yellow trailers. Where XPO redid all of their units, yes deep pockets, but with employee givebacks for 9 years you had some cash flow don’t deny it. It goes a long way to looking professional or in this case looking like a company hanging on by a thread.
Again the Unions do not have the same leverage as days gone by. They know it, and deep down so do the membership. The ABF and UPS contracts will be a bellwether, but YRC/Holland is a whole nother animal.
We have all gone over the scenarios on TB and in the break rooms many times. Don’t think for a moment that they will not close the doors and sell off and reopen non union under a different name. It’s not the 1960’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s or even early 00’s anymore. The non’s have been out there for years spreading the doom of this place with customers. They have had salesman directly tell customers we are folding, Fed Ex in particular.
I do believe the Union will make a deal if they have not done so already. The consessions to members will be small but just enough to swallow to keep the ball rolling. The telling time will be after 19’, can and will this place turn it around truly, not just spurts as we see happening and then the eventual reverting and falling back. I mean truly turning it around and being the leaders in the industry once again. Sadly this is not the case anylonger and that’s the real reality of it! But if they do not post 19’ then yes gentlemen the days are truly numbered and the gates will be closed and Holland/YRC will go the route of CF.
Never ever say or believe “we are to big to fail” I hear it all the time, but the bigger you are the harder you fall.