YRC Teamsters Still in the Dark about Pension Credits
December 20, 2010: YRC Teamsters were asked to vote for massive concessions for nearly five years, and were offered one benefit: resumption of pension credits, at a smaller contribution rate. The question now is: what pension credits will they get? No Answers Members are entitled to know the answers, but so far, they’re not getting any. The Central States Pension Fund trustees met on Dec. 7-9, but didn’t bother to take up the issue. As...
Sell Out Teamster Pensions to Get UPS Freight Dues?
January 18, 2011: We Would Never Do That, Swore Hoffa and Hall. "Ken Paff argues the [Central States] pension plan is worth saving. He’s afraid, though, that the Teamsters may be willing to give it up to get UPS Freight employees, who are not unionized, into the Teamsters fold. "However, the Teamsters say they have no intention of pursuing that strategy. "‘It would be ludicrous for us to even consider trading away something in a...
Building TDU in 2011
January 3, 2011: What should TDU be doing in 2011? We asked Frank Halstead, a co-chair of TDU’s International Steering Committee, the leadership body that was elected at the TDU Convention in November. Teamster Voice: Why do we need TDU in 2011? Hoffa and his administration have failed Teamsters in every possible way. They’re failing at the bargaining table. And then they’re failing to enforce the weak deals they negotiate. They’re failing to involve the...
Teamsters First Slate Wins in Local 100
December 20, 2010: Cincinnati members have voted for a new team to lead their local. Butch Lewis, a Holland city driver and former candidate for International Vice President on the Tom Leedham slate, led his Teamsters First Slate to victory in Cincinnati Local 100. Lewis has been a steward, business agent and past officer in Local 100. “The membership voted for change,” said Lewis. “Our local represents everything from UPS to freight, manufacturing to bus...
A Message from the TDU Trustees
December 20, 2010: Teamsters raised more than $50,000 for the TDU movement and the Sandy Pope Campaign at our annual TDU Convention. We’ll need that money—and more—to dump Hoffa in 2011 and build the stronger union Teamster members need. We have this opportunity to elect new leadership because of a battle fought and won by TDU members across the country. It’s because of TDU that we also have the right to vote on contracts (and...
UPSers Demand Results from Grievance Panel
December 20, 2010: Many UPS Teamsters are fed up with a grievance procedure that is stacked in favor of management. UPS Teamsters in Kansas City are not just grumbling–they’re doing something about it. Kansas City Teamsters in the Missouri Kansas Nebraska Conference are fed up with a grievance procedure that is stacked in favor of management. And they’re not taking it lying down. Members have formed the MOKAN Watch, a group of Teamsters dedicated to...
Update: UPS Full-Time Jobs Takeaway
December 20, 2010: Members in some locals make headway on getting UPS to fill vacant 22.3 jobs—while Hoffa and Hall duck the issue. At the last national grievance panel of 2010, the International Union once again refused to hear a single grievance on the elimination of full-time 22.3 jobs. After looking the other way for two years and telling members, “It wasn’t the right time” to enforce the contract, Package Division Director Ken Hall punted...
2011 National Grievance Panel Dates Set
December 20, 2010: The dates and locations for the UPS National Grievance Committee meetings have been set. The next National Grievance panel will be held March 7-11. (March 7-9 for UPS and March 9-11 for UPS Freight.) The panel will meet two other times this year: June 6-10 and Oct. 12-16.
The Resort Where Hoffa Goes to 'Enforce Our Contract'
December 22, 2010: The UPS National Grievance Committee settles national disputes and other grievances that have been deadlocked at both the local and regional levels. It’s also where some Teamster officials go to golf with management. All three panels in 2011 are scheduled to be held at resort hotels. The next UPS National Grievance panel will be held at the Westin Beach Resort in Ft. Lauderdale. Guests are encouraged to “Pamper yourself at our tranquil...
Bus Drivers Unite for a Fair Contract
December 20, 2010: Teamster bus drivers in Vermont are reaching out to the riding public to win a contract that improves conditions for both drivers and passengers. Teamster bus drivers in Vermont are used to cold weather. But even that didn’t prepare them for the chilly reception they got when they signed up to make public comments at the Board of Directors of their employer, the Chittenden County Transportation Authority (CCTA). After voting 36 to...