Earlier this month, the Teamsters National Freight Industry Negotiating Committee (TNFINC) commenced another round of meetings with TForce Freight for a new national agreement to succeed the current contract expiring on July 31.  

As negotiations resumed, union representative Kris Taylor blasted the company for trying to shrink its workforce through the use of job reductions masquerading as “buyouts.” TForce has been trying to lure certain drivers to voluntarily leave the company thereby shrinking the workforce. 

“We oppose the elimination of any union driver jobs. What makes it even more offensive is that the company already diverts an unacceptable amount of freight to rail and purchased transportation. We intend to put a stop to this,” Taylor said.  

The Teamsters National Freight Industry Negotiating Committee (TNFINC) met with TForce Freight to continue bargaining for a new national agreement this week in Omaha, Neb.   

Teamster representative and TNFINC Co-Chair Kris Taylor opened negotiations by letting the company know that the diversion of freight outside the bargaining unit is unacceptable and must stop.  

“Protection of unit work is a core issue in these negotiations,” Taylor said. “Some progress was made on other issues including stewards, seniority, hiring triggers, protection of rights, and extending FMLA rights to all facilities regardless of size. Much work, however, remains to be done.”   

The parties will resume bargaining in Omaha on April 24. The current agreement expires on July 31.