March 12, 2013: Ken Hall says the Union is working on “creative solutions” on healthcare as contract negotiations resume in Florida.

The International Union held rallies nationwide to draw a firm line against Teamsters paying toward our healthcare.

Ken Hall even threatened to walk away from the bargaining table if UPS didn’t withdraw its proposals that Teamsters pay for our healthcare.

The Company’s proposals are still on the table, however, as bargaining continues. And Hall has reported that the Teamster National Negotiating committee is “working hard to come up with creative solutions.”

Hall didn’t elaborate on what kind of “creative solutions” in his report to local unions.

Teamsters members are not expected to pay a cent toward their health insurance premiums in the new contract.  But Hall could be negotiating coverage changes for active and retired UPSers in company Health Plans. 

Increases in the cost for retiree healthcare in these plans are also expected.

Harassment

Hall reports that the Committee told UPS that they will not be able to move forward on negotiations without movement from the company on harassment issues.

But the Union did move forward and put economic proposals on the table for the first time. The International Union still has not told the members what harassment proposals are on the table or what the Union is fighting for to:

• protect drivers from harassment and discipline from UPS technology

• strengthen 9.5 rights so drivers’ loads are adjusted

• require UPS to hire additional drivers in centers where more drivers are needed to reduce excessive loads and unwanted, excessive overtime

• other harassment issues

Economic Proposals

The International Union has put its initial economic proposals on the table, including substantial increases in benefit contributions.

Also on the table is an increase in starting pay for part-time workers. There is still no word on wage increases for current part-timers.

The last time the starting wage went up for part-timers in 1997, existing part-timers got an extra $1 wage increase to narrow the gap between part-time and full-time wages. That gap is bigger today than ever.

Bargaining Timeline

Negotiations will be held in St. Petersburg Florida through Thursday and are scheduled to continue through the end of the month. 

Tentative agreements have been reached on many supplements, including some of the larger ones, but many remain unsettled.

The information Brownout on what’s in these deals continues—even where supplemental negotiations are completed.

Click here to read the negotiations update Ken Hall sent to UPS and UPS Freight locals.

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