Water. Rest. Shade.
July 2, 2018 | The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning for our area today, and a heat advisory through July 3 at 8 pm. Heat illness can be deadly. If you work outside you need to protect yourself: Drink water often. Rest in the shade. Report heat symptoms: Dizziness, headache, sweaty skin, fast heart beat, nausea, vomiting, weakness and cramping are symptoms of heat exhaustion. Symptoms of heat stroke are red, hot and dry skin, high body temperature, confusion, fainting, convulsions. Both types of heat illness require emergency care. Check out OSHA's website for additional information and advice about the hazards of working in hot weather.
Buyers circling Balt. Sun parent company, Tronc, after split with L.A. Times
July 5, 2018 | “The L.A. Times was their flagship paper,” said Doug Arthur, an analyst at Huber Research Partners LLC. “When you take out the flagship, what are you left with?” What’s left has caught the eye of potential suitors. Hearst Corp., owner of the Houston Chronicle and other daily newspapers, is interested in buying some of Tronc’s titles but not the company… Bloomberg
Successor contract ratified at Burris Logistics
July 9, 2018 | Drivers, and warehouse and maintenance workers at Burris Logistics (Burris Foods) overwhelming approved a new three year collective bargaining agreement June 24, 2018 that provides wage increases of $1.29 over the term and increases driver commission rates. In addition, the new contract provides an increase in the meal allowance and reimbursement for boots or safety shoe purchase. The union negotiating committee was successful in minimizing a broad company proposal regarding vacation “blackout” dates while still providing the company scheduling relief. Local 355 represents 110 workers at the Milford, Delaware distribution center.
Butch Lewis Act best solution for pension crisis
July 10, 2018 | More than 300 multiemployer pension plans across the country – including the Teamsters’ Central States Pension Fund, currently in critical and declining status – are in danger of failing. The deepening crisis is important to us because more than 400 former Local 557 members and 1,900 retirees who were covered by the Teamster Local 557 plan will be impacted. (When Local 557 merged with Local 355 in 2005, their pension plans remained separate.) A bipartisan congressional pension committee, tasked with finding a solution to the looming pension crisis by this November, is holding a field hearing in Columbus, Ohio on Friday, July 13th. The Teamsters, in conjunction with other international unions, are planning rallies to bring public attention to the crisis. But you don’t have to attend the rally to add your voice in support of the Butch Lewis Act (S.2147/H.R. 4444). What you can do… 355 News
Proposed contract released; supplemental agreements being finalized *
July 11, 2018 | The Teamsters National UPS Negotiating Committee has released the National Agreement in Principal and highlights of the agreement. The highlights are available here and the agreement is available here. Union negotiators are meeting to finalize the supplemental agreements. The Union has agreed to a contract extension that allows the leaders of local unions that represent UPS members to review the proposed national contract and supplements. Upon the leaders’ approval, members will then have the opportunity to vote electronically to ratify the National Agreement and their supplements. * Listen here to the UPS Teleconference Call from July 10th.
Hoffa: Unions want to be heard in fight to protect pensions
July 12, 2018 | The future of more than a million retirees and workers, many of whom worked decades and contributed to their pensions under the understanding they would be supported in their golden years. That is now being called into question, and it’s not right. America is facing a retirement crisis. Unions like the Teamsters, UMW and BCTGM have known this for years. But Congress has been slower to act. That changed this February, when it formed the House-Senate Joint Select Committee on Solvency of Multiemployer Pension Plans. It was tasked with finding a solution to the nation’s looming pension problem and will hear from the public firsthand tomorrow… Columbus Dispatch
Tentative agreement reached with UPS Freight
July 13, 2018 | “The Teamsters National UPS Freight Negotiating Committee (TNUPSFNC) and UPS Freight reached a tentative agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement,” Kris Taylor, IBT/UPS Freight Coordinator, announced today. No further details will be released until leaders from Teamster local unions that represent UPS Freight members meet in the next few weeks at the Two-Person meeting to review the tentative agreement and approve sending it out for a membership ratification vote. The parties agreed to an extension of the current agreement to allow for the ratification process to take place. Once the upcoming meeting takes place, the union will release more information.
Hoffa: Teamsters support Spain’s striking Amazon workers
July 18, 2018 | In a letter expressing solidarity “to striking Amazon workers at the San Fernando de Henares logistics center,” General President wrote in part, “The growth of Amazon is impacting so many of the industries in which Teamsters work and is changing the way people work and life across the globe.” Thousands of Amazon workers in Spain and Germany struck for during a three-day period, July 16 - 18, and workers in Poland staged a work-to-rule during Amazon’s Prime Day promotion. The workers are demanding labor contracts that guarantee healthy working conditions at fulfillment centers, according to nbcnews.com
Local 355 mourns the passing of two active UPS members
July 19, 2018 | Brother Travis Hughes passed away unexpectedly on July 10, 2018. A driver in the Owings Mills Center out of Hunt Valley, Hughes started working at UPS in 2006. He is survived by his wife Quinn Hughes and son Devin Hughes. The family will receive friends in the Lemmon Funeral Home of Dulaney Valley, 10 W. Padonia Road (at York Road) Timonium, Md., 21093 on Saturday, July 21, 2018, 2 pm - 5pm. Additional details here. Brother John Nicoli passed away July 17, 2018. John began his career with UPS in 1984, and worked as a driver out of the Baltimore hub. He is survived by his wife Victoria, and daughters Regina, Jennifer and Julia. A son, Brian, preceded John in death. Relatives and friends will be received in the Gonce Funeral Service P.A., 4001 Richie Hwy., Baltimore, Md., 21225 on Friday, July 20, 2018, from 3 pm - 5 pm and 7 pm - 9 pm. Additional details here. On behalf of our members, Local Union 355 officers and trustees extend their sincere condolences to the Hughes and Nicoli families.
Local Union leaders to meet to review tentative agreements
July 20, 2018 | The meeting, known as a “Two-Person” meeting because two leaders from each local union representing UPS and UPS Freight workers are invited to review the tentative agreements, will be held August 9, 2018. Meanwhile, after another round of negotiating sessions, the Teamsters UPS Supplemental Negotiating Committees have reached tentative agreements on many supplements to the National Master UPS agreement. However, there are some supplemental agreements which have not been finalized. The outstanding supplements are: Local 804, and Southwest Package and Sort Rider. After the Two-Person meetings, upon approval of the tentative agreements by the local union leaders, the tentative agreements will be sent to the membership for a ratification vote. A pdf of this update is available for download here.
National master contract extended
July 23, 2018 | Local Unions representing ABF employees received notice from the National Freight Division last Friday that the current ABF National Master Freight Agreement has been extended through July 31, 2018 to allow the parties to address those supplements that have not been ratified.
New contracts ratified at Penske, Matheson, and Dry Ice
July 23, 2018 | Teamsters at three Penske Truck Leasing locations in the Baltimore area ratified contracts providing substantial wage gains and benefits. Mechanics and fuelers at the Hammonds Ferry Road location approved in April a four-year agreement that provides … Continue reading
FAQs about the National Master UPS Tentative Agreement
July 25, 2018 | Q: What does it mean that part timers will not be in the progression and how much will a part timer make after three years? A: You will find answers to this and other frequently asked questions (FAQs) from UPS members here. (Also available: More information about the new 22.4 combination driver classification.) Watch for more FAQs soon.
ABF national contract has been ratified *
July 26, 2018 | The last supplement to the ABF NMFA has now been ratified. Consequently, the new collective bargaining agreement has been approved and will take effect. Pay increases will be retroactive to July 1 as per the new agreement. It is the union's understanding that the company will actually implement the new agreement on Sunday, July 29. Also, pay for week ending 7-28-2018 will be processed at the pay rate that includes the July 1, 2018 increase. Retro pay for weeks ending 7-7-2018, 7-14-2018 and 7-21-2018 will be paid by a separate check processed on or about 8-2-2018, and distributed with the paychecks for the week ending 7-28-2018. The ratification bonus will be processed and distributed within the next 30 days. * Updated July 31 – New contract provides pay increases, subcontracting protections and more
Part-time start rates, wage increases: Info here
July 30, 2018 | Information can be found here about start rates and general wage increases for preloaders and sorters, and “all others” as in the UPS tentative agreement. “This agreement will help tens of thousands of part-time workers like me with the increased start rates and wage increases…”
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