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Nov. 4, 2013 | This week in Weekly Tip for Members we talk about the contract criteria under which your employer can cut hours or lay off employees. A new steward might be interested to know when a contract actually becomes a contract and that information plus other helpful steward info can be found in Weekly Steward Tip. To access helpful tips and news you can use, sign up today!
ABF, Teamsters sign 5-year contract
Nov. 4, 2013 | Arkansas Best Corp. and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters ratified a national five-year labor agreement for the less-than-truckload carrier’s operations. The contract [took] effect on Nov. 3, 2013 and runs through March 31, 2018. Local 355 represents 80 ABF drivers. Details here.
YRC to Teamsters: Make a deal or else
Nov. 12, 2013 | YRC Worldwide Inc. boiled down its case to Teamsters officials on Nov. 5 as a stark choice: The union could give the company "room to breathe" or drive it off a cliff. The company told national and local leaders of the Teamsters that YRC needs to refinance its looming debt — and fast. The company and the union are operating under a labor agreement that lasts through March 2015. YRC wants to extend the pact. Story at Kansas City Business Journal. Watch this space for IBT information, further developments.
Teamsters support Walmart Black Friday strikes
Nov. 13, 2013 | Teamsters are out front supporting Walmart workers protests in the run-up to nationwide strikes on Friday, Nov. 29, also known as Black Friday. Teamsters are encouraged to join actions supporting the workers. It's very easy to find out what's gong on near you. Just click on BlackFridayProtests.org and type in your zip code in the giant box.
Lawmakers increasingly realize Fast Track is a fraud
Nov. 14, 2013 | The Teamsters for years have been an outspoken critic of fast-track authorization which allows bad proposed trade agreements to move through Congress on just a quick up-or-down vote. And in the last week, we were joined by 185 House lawmakers who feel the same way.…Fast track is an attack on democracy. Americans have been kept out of the loop on how the TPP will affect their everyday lives. The last think we need is for politicians to fast-track a Pacific trade deal through Congress that allows them to build in secret provisions that help their campaign contributors, but hurt working- and middle-class families. Full commentary by General President Jim Hoffa at The Huffington Post. Related: Word is getting out that the pending Trans Pacific Partnership "is toxic". [Please educate yourself about TPP. It matters in more ways than you can imagine.]
Teamster local unions support discussions with YRCW
Nov. 15, 2013 | On a conference call on Tuesday, Nov. 12, Teamster Local Unions that represent YRCW Freight members voiced support for the Teamster National Freight Industry Negotiating Committee (TNFINC) to meet with the company. The decision to meet with the company comes after the Local Union leaders heard from the YRCW leadership team on Tuesday, Nov. 5, and after they held meetings with their YRCW members throughout the week and weekend. Learn more here.
Why L.A. port truckers are striking
Nov. 19, 2013 | "We are on strike today to have respect and dignity at work," says Walter Melendez, one of approximately 40 Los Angeles port truck drivers who walked off the job at 5 a.m. yesterday morning in protest of alleged unfair labor practices. The strikes featured the rolling "ambulatory pickets" that the truckers have excelled at — chasing down trucks as they leave the port and setting up picket lines in front of them….The drivers have filed a complaint with the NLRB charging that the company retaliated against them for pushing forward with a drive to join the Teamsters. Full story at In These Times.
Tribune Co. reorganizes its publishing unit, cuts nearly 700 jobs
Nov. 21, 2013 | Tribune Co. announced a restructuring of its publishing business Wednesday to focus on its digital efforts and streamline operations, resulting in nearly 700 job losses across the Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, Baltimore Sun, and five other daily newspapers…The 700 cuts will play out across all eight Tribune Co. newspapers through the end of next year. Full story at Baltimore Sun. [Note: Baltimore Sun pressmen are Local 355 members.]
Truckers support Walmart workers ahead of Black Friday
Nov. 22, 2013 | Hundreds of workers' actions against Walmart nationwide will occur of Black Friday, Nov. 29. All the actions are important indicators of the rising discontent nationwide against low wages, bad benefits, income equality and the corporate-engineered "race to the bottom" — with Walmart leading the way….On the ground, more than one third of non-union "independent contractor" truck drivers at the Port of Los Angeles walked out against three firms whose fleets truck imported goods from the port inland to Walmart's warehouses, and to warehouses for other retailers. The walkout "put a serious crimp in their operations," Teamsters Local 848 Secretary-Treasurer Eric Tate, who coordinated the action, said in a phone interview… Continue reading at People's World.
Teamsters YRCW local union leaders to meet on Dec. 6
Nov. 27, 2013 | The Teamsters National Freight Industry Negotiating Committee (TNFINC) has called a meeting with Teamster Local Unions that represent YRCW members on Dec. 6th to review a forthcoming proposal from YRCW that modifies the existing Restructuring Agreement that is not scheduled to expire until March 31, 2015. Consistent with the IBT Constitution and past practice, Local Union leaders, after reviewing the details of the proposal, will then decide whether to submit the proposal to its membership to vote in a mail ballot referendum. Details of the proposal will be released after it has been reviewed with the Local Union leaders Dec. 6th. Stay tuned.
7 tips for staying on budget this holiday season
Nov. 27, 2013 | Do you overspend during the holidays? Holiday spending isn't a competition. Forget what you gave and how much you spent (and received) last year. Create and stick to a budget based on what you can afford this year. Union Plus has seven helpful tips and discounts to keep you within this year's budget.
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