query_posts with meta_value

Per comments, just use pre_get_posts filter (no query_posts()) very much as you have it with a few adjustments, eg test for $query->is_category( 'news' ) so that it only runs on news queries, and set the default to “2014” rather than bailing on no $_GET, eg

function wpse129223_custom_meta_query( $query ) {

    // If not on the main query, or on an admin page, bail here
    if ( ! $query->is_main_query() || is_admin() || ! $query->is_category( 'news' ) ) {
        return;
    }

    // Get the existing meta query, cast as array
    $meta_query = (array) $query->get('meta_query');

    // Convert 'type' into an array of types
    $types = explode( ',', empty( $_GET['years'] ) ? '2014' : $_GET['years'] );

    // Ensure that types aren't empty
    if ( is_array( $types ) && ! empty( $types ) ) {

        // Build a meta query for this type
        $meta_query[] = array(
            'key'     => 'years',
            'value'   => $types,
            'compare' => 'IN',
        );

        // Update the meta query
        $query->set( 'meta_query', $meta_query );
    } 

}
add_action( 'pre_get_posts', 'wpse129223_custom_meta_query' );