UPS Freight: Second Class Teamsters?
August 30, 2012: In 2008, when we got our first contract, the International Union told us that it was a "foot in the door" and real gains would come next time. Now it's next time. UPS Freight Teamsters can win parity and plug the holes in our contract, if we unify and say NO to any substandard contract. Dan Campbell, a retired experienced Teamster officer who was on the 1997 National Negotiating Committee for UPS,...
Freight Teamsters: Don't Be Fooled
August 22, 2012 Frank Rogers, YRCLocal 41, Kansas City When Hoffa, Johnson and Sweeton proposed the first round of concessions at YRC, some of us did some research. Our wages have not kept up with the cost of living, even before the concessions. And there never was any real "shared sacrifice." Good Teamsters fought in the streets and some sacrificed their lives for the standards that we as Teamsters enjoy today. We at YRC are...
Has ABF Pulled Out of NMFA?
UPDATED August 24, 2012: Some members are hearing from reports in industry journals that ABF has made a bargaining change. The answer is clear: the ABF bargaining split from YRCW happened in 2007, so zero has changed on that front. What has changed is that since the 2008 contract, on three occasions YRCW was given concessions, and the 2010 concessions extended the YRCW contract until 2015. While YRCW Teamsters will be impacted by the ABF...
Your Right to Get a Copy of Your Contract
UPDATED September 4, 2012: So. Cal Teamsters: Two Year Wait—No Contract Books The Southern California master grocery contract, covering 5,000 Teamsters, was ratified in October 2010. But after two years, members still can't get a copy of their contract. How can members enforce their contract if they can't even get a copy? Phil Richards, Unified GrocersLocal 630, Los Angeles "This has to be a record for delaying giving us our contract," said Phil Richards, a...
Could the Central States Pension Fund Go Insolvent?
August 22, 2012: It's an ugly question, but one that has to be faced. And then our union needs to take action to deal with the problem, to prevent it from happening. The Hoffa administration has all but given up on the Central States Pension Plan. This decision could have dire consequences for 280,000 Teamsters and retirees, numerous Teamster officers, and the financial viability of hundreds of Teamster locals. What can be done to prevent...
Louisville Carhaulers Fight for Jobs
August 22, 2012: More than 100 Teamsters lost their jobs in a corrupt union-busting deal in Louisville. They're fighting back and may be headed to victory. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has taken unusual emergency action in the case. Instead of waiting endlessly for a complaint to move forward, the NLRB has filed for an injunction in federal court to stop union busting. If the NLRB's motion succeeds, the Teamsters will be returned to...
Coli Takes Over Local 700
UPDATED August 24, 2012: Teamster power broker John Coli has ousted the president of Chicago Local 700 and installed Becky Strzechowski as head of the 12,500 public sector local. The losers in Coli's latest power grab are the Teamsters who work for the City of Chicago, Cook County and other public entities. Coli and Strzechowski are now positioned to trade concessions to politicians in exchange for perks, appointments and political deals. Coli created Local 700...
What Can Brown Do for Us?
August 24, 2012: We've delivered $4 billion in profits. UPS has taken care of its CEO Scott Davis. It's time to take make UPS deliver for us in the contract. Headed into contract negotiations, UPS continues to make big profits, especially in the package and freight divisions where Teamster members work. U.S. domestic package business is responsible for 63 percent of the company's profits. Those profits are on the rise and will easily top $4...
National Grievance Panel All But Canceled
August 22, 2012: Package Division Director Ken Hall has announced that the next and last national grievance panel of the year will be cut to just one day, Oct. 9, to cover all cases from both UPS and UPS Freight. The national grievance panel normally lasts five days. Contract violations are up. So why are union officials all but canceling the national grievance panel? Hall reports that Teamster officers from a number of Supplemental Negotiating...
UPS Contract Proposals & Timeline
Contract Negotiations Timeline Sept. 11UPS National Article Screening: Contract proposals from locals will be screened in Washington D.C. by a committee that will prepare the International Union’s bargaining proposals. Sept. 21UPS Two-Person Meeting: The National Negotiating Committee will hold a two-person meeting with officers from every Teamster local representing UPSers to approve the union’s bargaining proposals. Sept. 27National Negotiations Open: Contract talks begin. UPS and the International Union exchange bargaining proposals Oct 15-18, 22-25 &...