DHL Demands Expanded Use of Part-Timers
December 5, 2007: Thousands of DHL Teamsters are facing a threat to their future jobs and our union’s strength, as their chief negotiator has stated his view that “part-timers will be in the contract” because “DHL is demanding them.” The good news is that most DHL Teamsters are ready to say No to that concession, and No to concessions in general. Expanding the use of part-timers—to destroy good full-time Teamster jobs and take away members’...
Members Eye New Round of Concessions at IBC
December 5, 2007: Billionaire investor Ron Burkle says he has an “exclusive” deal with the Teamsters for concessions at Interstate Bakeries. But the billionaire investor and our top officials aren’t telling the details of their plans for a takeover of the bankrupt Teamster employer. On Nov. 30, a federal bankruptcy judge denied IBC management’s request for the details of Burkle’s secret deal with the Teamsters. Over 9,500 Teamsters make, deliver, and sell Hostess Twinkies, Wonder...
Potential Pension Threat in the Future
December 5, 2007: The removal of 44,000 UPS full-time Teamsters from Central States opens the door to lower pensions for all Teamsters down the road—not just in the Central States. UPS is set to save billions of dollars with the deal. TDU pension attorney Ann Curry Thompson answers questions during a pension rights workshop.Whatever your pension plan, members need to understand why UPS wanted this deal and what it means for you. Lowest Pension in...
Pennsylvania UPSers Vote No, Win Gains
December 5, 2007: Against the advice of the International, UPS Teamsters in Pennsylvania voted to reject the national contract and the Central Pennsylvania and Western Pennsylvania supplements. Their No Vote got UPS to put better offers on the table—which are being put to a vote now. The improvements in the new offer are limited—and many members feel more could have been won. After the contract, UPS and the International Union put on a full court...
Two UPS Contracts Still Not Bargained
December 5, 2007: The national UPS contract may soon be settled if the rejected supplements gain approval after being improved. But nearly 20,000 UPSers work under local contracts that are independent of the national agreement—and far from settled. UPS Teamsters throughout Indiana, Illinois and Davenport, Iowa are covered by the Local 705 contract (Chicago area) or the Local 710 contract (covering the rest of Illinois, much of Indiana, and Davenport). Neither of these contracts is...
Seattle Waste Members Win Major Pension Boost
December 5, 2007: Local 174 members at Waste Management and Allied Waste are getting a pension boost of $1.18 per hour in 2008 thanks to strong language negotiated in their last agreement. Under the Local 174 wastehaul agreements, members won major annual increases in healthcare contributions for their medical dental and vision benefits—starting with a 12 percent in year one of the contract and going up each year. At the end of each year, if...
Local 396 Trashes Waste Management Teamsters
December 5, 2007: Nearly 450 Waste Management Teamsters in Los Angeles reluctantly voted to end a two-week strike on Oct. 31 and accept a substandard contract after being hung out to dry by Local 396 and International Union leaders. When Waste Management locked out 500 Teamsters in Oakland this summer to try to force through healthcare cuts and other concessions, Mayor Ron Dellums called the lockout a “dress rehearsal” for this fall’s contract negotiations in...
Western Conference Pensions Rise
December 5, 2007: The Western Conference of Teamsters Pension Fund, which covers most Teamsters in the Western Region, is ending cuts in pension accruals that were imposed in July 2003. The accrual rates will increase to the historic base figure of 2 percent of contributions for Teamsters with less than 20 years credit, and 2.65 percent for those with more than 20 years. This means a Teamster’s monthly pension amount will increase by 2 percent...
An Interview with Richard Berg: Reformers Chart New Direction for Local 743
December 5, 2007: On Jan. 1, the 13,000 members of Chicago Local 743 will get a chance to build a stronger union as Richard Berg and the New Leadership Slate take office. Richard BergThis election victory comes after a long history of corruption. In September the current president and three former BAs were indicted for stealing the 2004 election. The old officers continue to try to obstruct democracy and block the winners from taking office,...
Rail Workers Build Solidarity Caucus
December 5, 2007: Rail labor activists from across North America are coming together to form a new cross-craft inter-union caucus that includes all rail workers in North America—Railroad Workers United. by Ron Kaminkow, BLET Division 51Amtrak, Reno., Nev. “We have been divided—craft against craft, union against union, terminal against terminal—for too long,” says Joe Wyman, UTU trainman in Tucson, Ariz. “We will be stronger by including all railroaders in North America.” The RWU will be...