Brokers Take Union Work in Sacramento
By David Loyd, UPS Freight, Local 150, Sacramento, Calif. We here in the South Sacramento service center need to be added to the report on UPS Freight subcontracting. In the past seven months we have lost 10 road jobs. Prior to June, 2008, our terminal had three sleeper teams scheduled to Harrisburg, Penn., two to Kansas City, Kan. (making a turn and a half), and two to Dallas (also making a turn and a half)....
Time to Take on Subcontracting at UPS Freight
February 26, 2010: UPS Freight Teamsters have filed over 40 national grievances to close the loophole on subcontracting at UPS Freight. Will the IBT take action to protect Teamster jobs? UPS Freight management is using the one-way loophole in Article 44 and driving load after load right through it. Teamster drivers are laid-off while subcontractors are hauling our loads. Now the IBT has a chance to stop it. UPS Freight Subcontracting Read TDU's report, see...
NYC Movers Take on Years of Givebacks
February 26, 2010: Commercial movers in New York are mobilizing to end decades of contract givebacks and save their pensions and healthcare. Over 150 commercial movers in Local 814 turned out on Feb. 9 to prepare for bargaining. Givebacks in recent contracts gutted members' pay and benefits and divided the membership into tiers.New York Local 814 moves New York—literally. The local represents the commercial movers who work for some of the deepest pockets in the...
Enforcing the UPS Freight Contract
February 26, 2010: As the January Teamster Voice reported, subcontracting is a big issue at UPS Freight. But it’s not the only issue. Members from around the country reported in on a range of problems in response to our initial survey on subcontracting. Kansas City Subcontracting remains a big concern and there are other issues, but members report a small victory. A grievance was won on the right to request single vacation days. Teamsters must...
Please Use the Potty, Not the Package Car
February 26, 2010: UPS is fighting a grievance all the way to the national panel over a supervisor who urinated in the back of a package car during a driver’s OJS. Is this sup not up to speed on UPS methods? Or does anything go if it helps hike up a driver’s SPORH? You be the judge. The first national grievance panel of the year is March 1 to 5 in Ft. Lauderdale. TDU makes...
UPS Profits Tripled in Fourth Quarter
February 26, 2010: UPS raked in $757 million in profits in the Fourth Quarter—nearly tripling its profits over the same period last year. Overall, Brown made $2.15 billion in profits in 2009. That’s after taxes. The company’s revenue is down from the Fourth Quarter last year—$12.4 billion compared to $12.7 billion. But profits are up because of “cost-cutting” according to press reports, including Teamster layoffs. Brown is squeezing higher profits out of fewer employees. “UPS has emerged from...
School Bus Drivers Coming Together
February 26, 2010: For years, Local 854 members in New York City have had substandard wages and working conditions compared to other school bus unions in the city. Now Teamster drivers and escorts are coming together to enforce their rights and demand better contracts and union representation. Teamsters Local 854 represents some 2,500 school bus drivers and escorts (bus assistants in charge of student safety). For years, the local was controlled by the Gambino crime...
Status Update: Central States Pension Fund
February 26, 2010: The good news: Central States assets increased $2 billion last year. The bad news: The fund is still in deep trouble. The assets of the Central States Pension Fund increased by some $2 billion in 2009, ending the year at $19.6 billion. That’s the good news. The bad news is the fund continues to be in deep trouble, and will have to make 12 percent on its investments just to tread water...
Will YRC Pension Contributions Resume in 2011?
February 26, 2010: YRC Teamsters—except in Chicago Local 710—have approved concessions that terminate participation in our pension plans until the end of this year, but resume on January 1. Will that plan work out—and is there a way to make it work? These questions have serious implications for our freight division, our pension plans and our Teamster members and families. Many YRC Teamsters worry this deal isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on. YRC’s pension...
Teamsters, YRC Team Up On Pension Legislation
February 26, 2010: The Teamsters and YRCW are working together to support proposed pension legislation that would help both the company and union pension plans. It’s up to our union to make sure that Teamster retirees are protected in the process. The Teamsters Union and YRCW are both supporting proposed legislation to strengthen union pension plans. One aspect of the proposed legislation would give funds more time to recover from the stock market collapse. This...