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December 14, 2024

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News Items - January 2014
Updated On: Feb 10, 2014

This week's member and steward tip posted today
Jan. 2, 2014 | Your website administrator was off for the holidays and posting resumed today. Be sure to check back for a new helpful tip every Monday.

Justice delivered: Deputy Sheriffs get their retro checks
Jan. 3, 2014 | Three and a half years into a legal battle with Anne Arundel County after its executive reneged on 2009 contractual wage provisions for 58 Teamster deputy sheriffs, an arbitrator in January 2013 sustained Local 355's grievance: Arbitrator Andrew M. Strongin directed that all affected employees were to be made whole, retroactive to July 1, 2009. The County balked, dragging litigation on for nearly another year. With a December court date looming, the County in mid-November finally conceded. “It took us four and a half years to get our members more than $670,000 due them contractually,” said Local 355 President Denis Taylor, after the sheriffs received their checks. “It was a long, hard, expensive legal battle, and I want to thank the membership for their unwavering financial and moral support in our defense of the deputy sheriffs.” Full story here.

Teamsters urged to boycott Yuengling beer
Jan. 6, 2014 | The IBT General Executive Board recently voted to support a Teamsters Union boycott of Yuengling beer over the owner's push for anti-union laws. The owner of D.G. Yuengling & Sons, Inc., based in Pottsville, Pa., publicly stated that Pennsylvania should become a "right-to-work" for less state. Click here for Yuengling beer products to boycott, and substitutes that Teamster members either produce or deliver.

First Transit ratification vote scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 11
Jan. 6, 2014 | First Transit mobility drivers who voted last April to join Teamsters Local 355 will vote on their first contract Saturday, Jan. 11, 2014 at the Baltimore union hall. Voting periods are at 11 a.m., 3 p.m., and 7 p.m. The contract covers 135 full-time and part-time para-transit and mobility drivers employed at the company's Sisson Street dispatch facility in Baltimore.

UPS Freight ratification vote set for Sunday, Jan. 12
Jan. 7, 2014 | Teamster Local Union leaders representing UPS Freight workers across the country endorsed a new tentative agreement yesterday. A ratification vote for all UPSF Local 355 members will be conducted at the Union Hall in Baltimore, Sunday, Jan. 12th, at 10 a.m. The new agreement can be viewed here. A summary of highlights of the agreement can be viewed here. If you have questions about the TA, contact Vice President Erv Williams or Business Agent Mark Garey
.

Tell Congress to renew unemployment insurance now
Jan. 8, 2014 | More than 1.3 million unemployed Americans were cut off December 28, 2013, from the federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) program, a vital lifeline of support needed for them and their families to survive while they continue to look for work in our lagging economy. An additional 72,000 jobseekers will lose their benefits each week until the program is restored. Congress should restore this vital lifeline to those who will slip into deeper poverty without these benefits. A bipartisan 3-month reauthorization of unemployment benefits is the first order of business for the Senate this week. It's the right thing for our economy, as consumer spending will drop and more jobs will be lost as a result if the benefits aren't renewed. Please call your members of Congress today at 877-267-2485 and tell them to renew unemployment insurance now.

Retirees' Christmas Party photos, latest newsletter posted
Jan. 9, 2014 | More than 250 retired members and their guests attended the Local 355 Association of Retired Members' annual Christmas Party held Dec. 19, 2013, at the UAW Hall in Baltimore. An extensive menu, cake wheel, money wheel, basket-of-cheer drawing, 50/50 drawing and entertainment by Charlie Long (ABF/retired) was enjoyed by all. Party photos here. Newsletter here (Pictured: Bob Eney, President, Local 355 Association of Retired Members.)

YRCW Teamsters reject company’s proposed extension, modification of MOU
Jan. 10, 2014 | Teamsters at YRCW rejected the company’s proposal that would have extended and modified the existing memorandum of understanding. The proposed extension and modification was voted down 61 to 39 percent. “Our members have sacrificed billions of dollars in wages and pension benefits over the past five years and yet the company has been unable to recover from the disastrous policies of the previous management,” said Teamster General President Jim Hoffa. Vote results here.

Massive trade bill filed in Congress; you can help stop it
Jan. 10, 2014 | Legislation was filed yesterday to make it easier to pass job-killing trade deals like NAFTA…Here’s what you can do: Click on this link and send an email to your representatives in Congress. Do it now. We cannot allow Congress to give a rubber stamp to the TPP and other bad trade deals by allowing Fast Track to pass. (Read the full post at teamsternation.org.)

First Transit workers overwhelmingly approve first contract
Jan. 11, 2014 | A first contract was overwhelmingly approved by First Transit workers in a ratification vote conducted Saturday, Jan. 11, 2014. The five-year collective bargaining agreement covering more than 200 mobility drivers includes 2% annual wage increases (or at the rate of increase mandated by applicable living wage law, whichever is greater); a $1 increase per hour for behind-the-wheel trainers when peforming such function; job security and seniority rights; job bidding language; holiday pay; bereavement benefits; and work hours and overtime guarantees. First Transit workers voted April 15, 2013 to join Teamsters Local Union 355. Some were para-transit drivers represented by Local 355 who were laid off from Veolia in February, 2013. (Pictured: Marquita Hood reviews the tentative agreement during one of three information meetings held Saturday prior to the contract vote.)

UPS Freight Teamsters approve new national contract
Jan. 13, 2014 | UPS Freight Teamsters have voted overwhelmingly to ratify a new national five-year master agreement that increases wages, significantly strengthens pension benefits and takes on the issue of subcontracting. The vote, which was 5,195 to 2,094 as of Sunday night, was held at local union halls during the weekend. Participation was 69 percent, which far exceeded the previous ratification vote last June, which was 58 percent. Read more at teamster.org. Pictured: UPSF members (L-R) Rob Weckesser, Dave Herd, and Spencer Wise await the results following the vote in Baltimore.

YRCW update from the International
Jan. 16, 2014 | Since last Thursday we have had ongoing discussions with YRCW around the company's next steps since the rejection of the proposed MOU. IN light of the rejection we have asked YRCW to review its position with all of its key stockholders including their existing lenders and potential investors. In addition, as we communicated with Teamster local unions — we have told the company that we will not revote the same proposal that was rejected…The company has requested a meeting to discuss their next step and "revised proposal."… Read more at teamster.org. Related: CEO James Welch: “One thing I am confident of is that our union employees did not vote to place themselves out of a job.” Via JOC.com. (Registration required.)

Teamsters honor legacy, celebrate contributions of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Jan. 20, 2014 | Teamsters across the country are honoring the legacy of civil rights and labor leader Martin Luther King, Jr. today. King devoted his life to securing rights for minorities and eliminating segregation in society. He believed that the path to economic freedom and social justice were one and the same and strongly supported the labor movement…Under the leadership of General President James R. Hoffa, the Teamsters donated more than $25,000 to King in 1961 and sent supplies to marchers and other civil rights workers camped out in Selma and Montgomery, Alabama, and other locations along the Freedom Ride routes. King was supporting union sanitation workers in Memphis on the day he was assassinated. Learn more at teamster.org.

Teamsters announce tentative agreement with YRCW
Jan. 20, 2014 | The IBT announced Friday that it had reached a tentative agreement with the company that, if ratified by the membership, will provide a pathway for substantial debt reduction and refinancing initiatives that will permit the company to protect and preserve more than 30,000 jobs. Details of the revised proposal will be reviewed at a meeting of local union officials to be held on Tuesday, Jan. 21. It is up to that committee to approve sending the revised proposal to the membership for a ratification vote. Learn more here.

Local Union leaders endorse YRCW tentative agreement
Jan. 21, 2014 | Local Union leaders representing YRCW employees overwhelmingly recommended to approve a tentative agreement and to send it out to the membership for a vote. The tentative agreement with YRCW, if ratified, will provide a pathway for substantial debt reduction and refinancing initiatives that will permit the company to protect and preserve more than 30,000 good American jobs. The tentative agreement contains significant improvements over the company’s prior rejected proposal. Details here.
UPDATE: A meeting to present the tentative agreement and conduct a ratification vote is scheduled for Sunday, January 26, 2014, at 10 a.m. at the Union Hall in Baltimore. YRC Freight and New Penn Teamsters must be present to vote.

Members approve agreement
Jan. 26, 2014 | YRCW Teamsters have approved a tentative agreement aimed at protecting more than 30,000 jobs. Workers voted this weekend after rejecting a prior company proposal. Teamsters at YRCW approved this latest proposal by a vote of 12,267 to 6,314. More at teamster.org. YRC wins key refinancing agreement with Teamsters vote.

Union growth should serve as signal to elected officials
Jan. 27, 2014 | The union movement is growing. In the last year, thousands of workers took to the streets to protest low pay and their lack of ability to organize. They have stood up to the nation's largest retailers saying they demand respect in the workplace. And new U.S. Labor Department numbers released Friday back that up. Continue reading at teamster.org.

Applications are available for The James R. Hoffa 2014-2015 Scholarship
Jan. 28, 2014 | The Union offers scholarships through the James R. Hoffa Memorial Scholarship Fund for high school seniors. The Fund is established solely to provide scholarships to the child or financially dependent grandchild of a member of the Teamsters. The application deadline is March 31, 2014. Click here to download the application and academic record form. Additional information can be found here.

Teamsters to take part in tomorrow's Day of Action against Fast Track
Jan. 30, 2014 | Tomorrow, Jan. 31st, people across North American will be taking part in an Inter-Continental Day of Action against Fast Track and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). The TPP is another bad trade deal that could become the law of the land without any debate or amendments if Fast Track legislation is allowed to pass. We can't let that happen! Please be sure to call your Representative and Senators tomorrow at 1-888-979-9806 and tell them to vote NO on Fast Track. And if you're able to, please join one of the many events that are being planned nationwide for tomorrow. A listing can be found here. For more information, go to Fast Track is the Wrong Track for Teamsters.

 


 
 
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