Working Teamsters Say Keep Your Promises!
May 1, 2008: Freight and UPS Teamsters don't even have copies of their new contracts. But that isn't stopping management from trying to use the new contract language to their advantage. UPS has failed to comply with new rules on excessive overtime. Elsewhere the company is undermining full-time jobs with a new program to accept ground packages in drop boxes. At UPS, the language in these cases is on our side. It’s up to our...
Roadway, Yellow, Holland Push Changes of Operation
May 1, 2008: Roadway, Yellow and Holland have all submitted changes of operations that mark the beginning of the new “utility driver” model. Hundreds of road and city jobs would be eliminated and converted to the utility employee classification. No doubt more will follow this initial change. Each of the three changes establishes 12 “velocity centers” throughout the East, South, and Midwest aimed at reducing transit time for up to 25 percent of all shipments....
Bargaining Working Conditions
May 1, 2008: New Teamster members at UPS Freight are looking at how to negotiate on work rules and “existing practices.” Under the newly ratified contract, there’s a 60-day window to put pen to paper and agree on how Teamsters will exercise their rights when it comes to day-to-day issues. The clock is ticking. Members have heard a mix of news on how Article 41 will be sorted out. Many see the effort as negotiating...
Petition Drive, Pension Movement Grow in Baltimore
May 1, 2008: Two months after their fund froze working members’ pension accrual, the movement to protect Teamster pensions is growing in Baltimore Local 355. On March 1, the Local 355 plan cut the accrual rate to zero. That means that members’ pensions are frozen and working Teamsters are earning zero additional retirement benefits for any of their hours worked since March. In April, Local 355 members launched a petition campaign to demand more information...
Central States Fund’s Letters Stir Concerns
May 1, 2008: Hundreds of thousands of working Teamsters and retirees received a startling letter from the Central States Pension Fund in early April saying that the fund is in critical status. That's also called the Red Zone. The notice is written in legalese and discusses a potential reduction in benefits. Given the history of benefit cuts in Central States, it’s no wonder that thousands of Teamsters are calling the fund, their local unions, and...
New England Pension Fund in the Red Zone
May 1, 2008: The New England Teamsters and Trucking Industry Pension Fund has put members on notice that the fund will be in critical status (the “Red Zone”) when its funding classification is officially certified later this year. The fund also announced strict new rules that will make it tougher for local unions in contract negotiations. The new rules are part of the fund’s Rehabilitation Plan—a plan required by the Pension Protection Act for improving...
UPS Tries to Water Down 9.5 Language
May 1, 2008: Is the company trying to water down the new 9.5/Excessive Overtime language it just negotiated? The new Article 37 language has been in effect since January 1. But with the exception of a few areas, the company did not post the “9.5 Opt-In/Opt-Out” lists required by the language. The issue has reportedly been under discussion by Teamster and company officials at the highest levels. What’s to discuss? The new language is crystal...
UPSer Network Takes on Harassment, Excessive OT
May 21, 2008: Stewards and other UPS Teamsters in North Carolina are getting together on conference calls to deal with contract issues and help each other enforce members’ rights on the job. “It can be really hard dealing with all the problems management throws at us when you feel like you’re on your own,” says Scott Weaver, a Local 61 package car steward out of Shelby, N.C. “These meetings give me a chance to learn...
Fear Factor
May 1, 2008: Most of us hired on at UPS for the same reasons. Good pay, good benefits, job security, a chance to make a life for our families. The company knows these reasons for you wanting to work for them, and they use them to create a highly motivated work force. Nothing is more fearful to a person than the prospect that his or her mate or children will go without food, healthcare, or...
UPS First Quarter Profits Up 7.5 Percent
May 1, 2008: UPS announced its profit rose 7.5 percent in the first quarter, though it was affected by the weakening U.S. economy. After-tax profits rose to $906 million, or 87 cents a share, for the January-March quarter, compared to $843 million, or 78 cents a share, for the same period last year. Revenue in the quarter rose 6.5 percent to $12.68 billion, compared to $11.91 billion last year. UPS said it benefited from strong...