Teamsters National UPS Agreement Takes Effect, Final Supplement Ratified: The five-year contract covering about 250,000 Teamster-represented workers at UPS will take effect at 12:01 a.m. tomorrow, Monday, April 29, after workers in Michigan ratified the last outstanding supplemental agreement.

Hoffa: Teamsters Back Effort to Revamp Federal Labor Law to Benefit Workers: The following is a statement from Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa about legislation introduced today in the House by Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.) and in the Senate by Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) that would comprehensively update the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) to benefit workers.

Nebraska Teamsters Laud Collective Bargaining Resolution: Teamsters Local 554 joined their allies who represent public sector workers in the state of Nebraska yesterday by celebrating the passage of Legislative Resolution (LR) 487.

Del. Officers Agree to First Contract as Local 326 Members: Officers with the Smyrna Police Department in Delaware unanimously approved their first contract as members Local 326 last week, backing an agreement that raises their pay above that of other area law enforcement while reducing their health care costs.  The contract for the 25 officers also includes arbitration settlement language, the right to challenge discipline, lay off language, an upgrade in bullet-proof vests and a temporary work policy for injured employees.

Teamsters Help Train Navajo Area Rail Workers on Protective Skills: Railroad workers in communities near the Navajo Nation territory received important safety training on April 10-14 in Winslow, Ariz., thanks to Teamsters and other rail union grantees of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Worker Training Program.

Safety Notice for Rail Teamsters : Since 2014, OSHA has designated the first full week of May as National Stop Construction Falls week.

NYC Mayor Signs Law Protecting Sanitation Union Rights : Mayor Bill de Blasio signed a new law to crack down on the sham unions in the private carting industry. The legislation, which was sponsored by City Council Member Antonio Reynoso, was a long-time priority of Teamsters Local 813.

Shop Stewards for United Airlines Mechanics Wrap Up Training at Teamsters Headquarters : Shop stewards who represent aircraft mechanics at United Airlines (UA) wrapped up a two-day training last week at IBT headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Teamsters Military Assistance Program Meets With Army, Soldier For Life Program: General President Hoffa and Airline Division Director David Borne recently met with Sergeant Major of the Army, Senior Enlisted Member of the U.S. Army, Daniel Dailey and Mrs. Holly Dailey.

 

NEWS ARTICLES

Teamsters National UPS Agreement Takes Effect, Final Supplement Ratified Agreement Increases Wages, Protects Benefits, Creates New Full-Time Jobs: (WASHINGTON) – The five-year contract covering about 250,000 Teamster-represented workers at UPS will take effect at 12:01 a.m. tomorrow, Monday, April 29, after workers in Michigan ratified the last outstanding supplemental agreement.
The national contract will increase wages, protect benefits and create thousands of new full-time jobs. Economic improvements in the contract are retroactive to August 1, 2018. The company has been notified of the ratification and will attempt to implement required raises during the next weekly pay period.
“This contract recognizes our members’ hard work by providing solid wage increases, protecting their health coverage, improving their retirement security and giving part-time workers the chance to advance into long-term careers,” said Denis Taylor, Co-Chair of the National Negotiating Committee and Director of the Teamsters Package Division. “We realize this has been a long process, and we appreciate our members’ patience and support.”
The UPS contract includes wage increases of $4.15 per hour for both full-time and part-time workers over the term of the contract and increases the part-time start rate by $2.50 retroactively to August 1, 2018. All full-time and part-time UPS Teamsters will continue to receive health insurance for the member and their family without paying premiums. The agreement also strengthens grievance enforcement for harassment with a sitting arbitrator and monetary penalties, and a new procedure to make it easier to get on or off the overtime list.
The agreement requires UPS to create 5,000 new full-time jobs during the term of the agreement, including a minimum of 2,000 Article 43 driver jobs, and a new combination driver classification that addresses the changes brought on through the e-commerce revolution.

Hoffa: Teamsters Back Effort to Revamp Federal Labor Law to Benefit Workers NLRA Reform Legislation Would Improve Rights of Those on the Job: (WASHINGTON) – The following is a statement from Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa about legislation introduced today in the House by Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.) and in the Senate by Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) that would comprehensively update the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) to benefit workers.
“The Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act will restore fairness to the economy at a time when income inequality has stifled the ability of far too many hardworking Americans to earn a decent wage that allows them to support their families.
“Workers deserve a safe workplace, the ability to stand together and negotiate better working conditions, and to live a middle-class lifestyle. This bill would beef up the NLRA so that workers seeking to organize a union and negotiate higher wages and better benefits will be protected.
“Lawmakers have seen what happens when workers are abandoned by their elected officials. The misclassification of workers is on the rise and too many working Americans are falling through the cracks. The Teamsters have witnessed such behavior firsthand as XPO workers across the country try to organize with this union. It’s time for Congress to stand with their constituents by allowing them to join together to negotiate on the job.”

Nebraska Teamsters Laud Collective Bargaining Resolution Measure Commemorates 50 Years of Public Sector Bargaining Rights: (OMAHA, Neb.) – Teamsters Local 554 joined their allies who represent public sector workers in the state of Nebraska yesterday by celebrating the passage of Legislative Resolution (LR) 487.
“We’d like to thank the elected officials in the Nebraska Legislature who introduced and passed this resolution re-affirming collective bargaining rights of workers in the public sector,” said Kim Quick, President of Local 554. “Public employees provide essential services that Nebraskans rely on every day, and they deserve the same rights and representation as everyone else.”
LR 487, introduced by Sen. Mike McDonnell of Omaha, commemorates the 50th anniversary of Nebraska public sector workers gaining collective bargaining rights with the passage of Legislative Bill 15. It designated April 29 as Public Employee Collective Bargaining Day.
“Nebraskans are encouraged to recognize, commemorate and celebrate the history and importance of collective bargaining in the State of Nebraska,” the resolution states.
Teamsters Local 554 represents workers in a wide variety of industries throughout the state of Nebraska. For more information, go to www.local554.org.

Del. Officers Agree to First Contract as Local 326 Members: Officers with the Smyrna Police Department in Delaware unanimously approved their first contract as members Local 326 last week, backing an agreement that raises their pay above that of other area law enforcement while reducing their health care costs.  The contract for the 25 officers also includes arbitration settlement language, the right to challenge discipline, lay off language, an upgrade in bullet-proof vests and a temporary work policy for injured employees.

Teamsters Help Train Navajo Area Rail Workers on Protective Skills  Rail Union Courses Funded by NIEHS Worker Training Program Help Educate Rural and Tribal Rail Workers on Health and Safety: Railroad workers in communities near the Navajo Nation territory received important safety training on April 10-14 in Winslow, Ariz., thanks to Teamsters and other rail union grantees of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Worker Training Program.
The training was conducted by the Rail Workers Hazardous Materials Training Program, which is under the Teamsters Safety and Health Department. The program is comprised of nine rail unions, including the BLET and BMWED.
From the NIEHS website:
The grantees planned this third 40-hour Chemical Emergency Response (CER) training program after receiving positive feedback from 2017 and 2018 trainees. The 2019 course served railroad workers from the Navajo Nation, New Mexico, Nevada, and California.
“One of the strengths of the teamsters training program is that they have made a long-term commitment to their work with Native American tribal organizations, for both transportation workers and the broader communities beyond the reservation,” said Joseph “Chip” Hughes, WTP director. “Having and building this trust relationship is a key to the program’s success.”
Addressing hazardous material transport risks
The course helps workers enhance their awareness and knowledge of hazardous materials they may encounter on the job, and skills to protect their health. Transportation workers face occupational risks such as accidental releases of hazardous materials, hazardous waste exposure during cleanup projects, and hazardous waste and materials transported via trucks, rail cars, and intermodal shipping containers.
“Transportation employees are often the first on a scene if there is a derailment or release of hazardous materials from a truck or train,” Hughes pointed out. “Advance training helps them prepare for these scenarios.”
For rural and remote tribal nations across the U.S., these risks are heightened by lack of proximity to and resources for extensive health and safety training. Trainees may be learning about safety information for the first time, despite being employed for years. “I have worked with a lot of chemicals, and I would not have exposed myself to the hazards I did, if I had proper worker training,” said one attendee.
Although CER training is not required by railroad employers, it is helpful for employees. “We want them to learn how to be safe on the job, and to increase their awareness of hazardous materials that are transported on the railways in case of derailment,” said Charmaine Woolard, IBT assistant program manager.
Sparking change in home and workplace
As a result of this course, many trainees are empowered to reach out to their employer and spark change in their own workplace. “[Union] workers are not as intimidated to go to their employer and ask for personal protective equipment [PPE],” Woolard said.
Attendees can use the knowledge they learn for workplace settings to keep their homes and families safe as well. “I now realize the importance of having a back-up plan at work and at home for dangerous situations that may happen,” said a participant. “I will be talking with my family on a meeting place and evacuation plan, should we need it.”

Safety Notice for Rail Teamsters: Since 2014, OSHA has designated the first full week of May as National Stop Construction Falls week. This is an opportunity to stop and reflect on the hazards of railroad bridge and structure work, especially the real – and oftentimes fatal – risks that come with working at heights.
Despite an increased emphasis on safety and prevention, fatalities from falls still occur much too frequently. Wear your PPE and your fall-prevention harnesses and safety apparatuses. Do not take chances! If there is pressure to complete a task without the proper protection, DO NOT work until the job can be preformed safely.
Falls can happen at anytime when working on a railroad bridge or structure. Your life is too valuable to take shortcuts. Join us this week in re-emphasizing fall safety and pledging to do all work from heights in a safe manner. Read the full article here

NYC Mayor Signs Law Protecting Sanitation Union Rights: Mayor Bill de Blasio signed a new law to crack down on the sham unions in the private carting industry. The legislation, which was sponsored by City Council Member Antonio Reynoso, was a long-time priority of Teamsters Local 813.
Of all the safety, environmental, and labor violations that plague the private carting industry, one of the most egregious is the prevalence of sham unions that work to undermine legitimate labor organizing.
The private sanitation industry subjects workers to grueling, and at times, life-threatening work. To make matters worse, in many shops, the unions that are supposed to protect workers’ rights operate are mere extensions the company’s ownership. Sham unions and company owners collude to turn a profit at the expense of workers and to prevent workers from ever securing good benefits and worker protections.
The Teamsters’ organizing and support of workers, and the tireless work of reporters like Keira Feldman at ProPublica were critical in unveiling the prevalence of these issues within private carting industry and the dire need for reform. Private sanitation workers rallied and testified to the working conditions within the industry and the role that sham unions play in perpetuating them and undermining workers’ rights to organize.
Currently, the Business Integrity Commission (BIC) is charged exclusively with regulating private carting companies themselves. However, labor organizations aligned with the companies have been outside of their purview. This blind spot in the agency’s authority has allowed organized crime to continue to maintain a presence within the carting industry.

The new law will authorize BIC to investigate union officers associated with the private carting industry. By closing the loophole in the agency’s authority, this bill would enable the agency to fully root out organized crime from the industry and ensure that unions are supporting the workers and not company ownership.
Sean Campbell, President of Local 813, has worked tirelessly to reform the industry and return standards to what they once were. He has received ongoing support from International Vice President George Miranda President of Teamsters Joint Council 16, as well as International Representative Bernadette Kelly, all of whom were present at the signing of the bill.

Shop Stewards for United Airlines Mechanics Wrap Up Training at Teamsters Headquarters: Shop stewards who represent aircraft mechanics at United Airlines (UA) wrapped up a two-day training last week  at IBT headquarters in Washington, D.C.
“I’d like to thank everyone who made time to come out to our training last week,” said Capt. David Bourne, Teamsters Airline Division Director. “Whether you have been a Teamster in the aviation industry for three years or 30 years, there’s always something new to learn.”
The training covered a wide variety of topics and was geared towards equipping UA stewards with the tools that they need to give their membership the best possible representation. IBT Attorneys Deirdre Hamilton and Nick Manicone provided attendees with an overview of the Railway Labor Act (RLA). Hamilton and Manicone also lead a session on what stewards need to know for arbitrating grievances and other matters under the RLA. The steward were also provided with a presentation by Richard Edelman, an attorney from the union-side law firm Mooney, Green, Saindon, Murphy & Welch, P.C. Edelman covered the history of the RLA and other pertinent labor laws.
In addition to these presentations, the stewards went through a detailed training on how to make the best possible case to the System Board of Adjustment (SBA) that was led by Iliana Flores, Southern Region Training Coordinator; Vinny Graziano, IBT Airline Division National Coordinator for Technicians and Related Classifications; and Deirdre Hamilton. They also learned how to use a new software system that will make the process of arbitrating grievances more seamless and efficient.
“This week gave us excellent opportunities to share best practices with one another and learn new skills that we can use to advocate on behalf of mechanics at United Airlines,” said Chris Moore, TAMC Chairman. “The more knowledge we have, the better representatives we can be, and the workers we represent will be happier and better off because of it.”
Thanks so much to everyone at United Airlines and the IBT Airline Divison who came out to our training!

Teamsters Military Assistance Program Meets With Army, Soldier For Life Program : General President Hoffa and Airline Division Director David Bourne recently met with Sergeant Major of the Army and Senior Enlisted Member of the U.S. Army, Daniel Dailey and Mrs. Holly Dailey. Dailey and Hoffa hold our service members in the highest regard and continue to have dialogue about providing opportunities for soldiers who are seeking life changing career pathways as they are exiting from their military careers and entering into civilian sectors. Service members capabilities and credentials are often overlooked or are not properly identified by civilian industry. The Teamsters Military Assistance Program (TMAP) has an on-going collaboration with the U.S. Army, Department of Defense and Department of Labor.  
TMAP and Hoffa also hosted meetings with Colonel Prescott Farris, Director of U.S. Army Soldier for Life program. They were joined by Director Bourne and Airline division representatives Paul Alves (U.S. Air Force Veteran), Chris Moore and Robert Fisher.  Also, on April  25, TMAP and Teamsters Airline Division met with Mr. Boris Program Manager, Under Secretary of Defense and the U.S. Army with regard to A&P Licensure. Industry and the Military are having collective conversations with regard to providing policy and pathways for those who have honorably served to better their futures.

The Teamsters continue to support our nation’s service men and woman through the Teamsters Military Assistance Program. The resources that the Teamsters have provided with regard to CDL Licensing and Credentialing has changed the lives of many returning service men and women as they transition from their military careers into civilian sector. The TMAP/ABF program has put hundreds of soldiers on career pathways in the trucking / freight industry.
The Teamsters offer a unique resource and solutions for career military personnel transitioning into civilian industry careers.

 

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