May-June 2010
Stories on this page:
- Supreme Court Rules National Labor Relations Board Decisions Were Illegal
- USS Emory S. Land Departs Bremerton
- June Freight Update
- Dolphins, Sea Lions on Guard at Washington Submarine Base
- Univ. of California Employees Affiliate With the Teamsters
- Court Service Deputies Attacked, Told Not to File Charges
- Teamsters at Coke Bargain for a Fair Contract
- Judges and Assistants Needed for WTA Rodeo
- Teamsters Launch Campaign: 'FedEx Drivers Aren't Pilots'
- Teamsters Move to Minimize Effect on Public and Return to Bargaining Table
- Todd Begins Work on Second 64-Car Ferry
- Washington State Trades People Take the Lead in Training Heroes
- Yard Sign Solidarity Action Day April 18th
- Update on upcoming NLRB trial and new contract proposal submitted by your union
- Archived News Stories
Supreme Court Rules National Labor Relations
Board Decisions Were Illegal
Source: The
Washington Post (Friday, June 18, 2010)
Hundreds of recent federal rulings in disputes between unions and employers could be reopened after the Supreme Court said on Thursday that it was illegal for the National Labor Relations Board to decide the cases with only two sitting members.
The case before the court turns on an attempt by the NLRB to operate with only two of its five seats filled because of gridlock over presidential nominees, and it highlights the way political divisions in Congress interfere with basic government functions.
Before the board's membership shrunk to two after stalled appointments by President Bush and then President Obama, members recognized that they would soon be shorthanded. They voted to delegate authority to the reduced board in order to keep moving the cases, which involve a variety of disputes between employees and employers over wages, working conditions, union organizing and contracts.
But in the 5-4 court decision, the majority called the board's attempt to keep functioning a "Rube Goldberg-style delegation mechanism . . . surely a bizarre way for the Board to achieve the authority to decide cases." The opinion was written by Justice John Paul Stevens, one of the court's most liberal members, who was joined by its most conservative voices, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and justices Antonin Scalia, Samuel A. Alito Jr. and Clarence Thomas.
Now thrown into doubt are the approximately 600 cases decided during the 27 months when the board had only two members.
Whether or not the two-member board had the authority to rule is the basis for legal challenges in five other NLRB cases pending before the Supreme Court and 69 pending before appeals courts. The NLRB, which will probably have to reconsider those 74 cases, is planning how to handle the others.
"What happened here is emblematic of the politics of the last three years," said the board's current chairman, Wilma B. Liebman, a Democrat. "We thought we were doing the right thing to keep the agency running."
She said the board will abide by the ruling. The board now has four members -- three Democrats and one Republican -- after Obama made two recess appointments in March.
For months, Liebman and board member Peter C. Schaumber, a Republican, ruled on hundreds of cases on which they could agree. Liebman said they were trying to bring finality to the people involved.
But the bipartisan duo set aside about 60 cases in which they were deadlocked. They also set aside another 60 cases that they thought would set legal precedent.
The delays in Congress's approval of board nominees are "unfortunate for the institution, the process and the parties," Liebman said. "In many cases, it involves people's lives and livelihoods."
Labor groups lamented the Supreme Court ruling as another successful delay tactic by companies seeking to thwart unions.
USS Emory S. Land Departs Bremerton for New Home
BREMERTON — The USS Emory S. Land, one of the Navy’s two submarine tenders,
departed Bremerton Monday for its new forward-deployed homeport of Diego Garcia
in the Indian Ocean.
It will provide maintenance for fast-attack and guided-missile submarines operating in the Fifth Fleet area. The positioning will dramatically reduce transit time for subs in the Middle East that need intermediate maintenance, emergent repair or logistics support.
Sailors in their dress whites line the railings as the submarine tender USS Emory S. Land sails past Bremerton Harbor as it departs from the shipyard on Monday. MEEGAN M. REID | KITSAP SUN
The ship’s repair officer, Cmdr. Michael Elmstrom, said it’s a completely
new mission for a submarine tender.
“New challenges and a remote location will make it an interesting, challenging
(assignment), and I’m looking forward to it,” he said.
The ship’s forward-deployed change of homeport to Diego Garcia is part of the Global Posture Defense Realignment.
June 2010 Freight Update
The Freight Department of Local 174 remains very busy since our last update. New developments include a vote on wage concessions package for all members from ABF, which called for a 15% wage reduction, over the next 3 years. The package, which was recommended by the IBT but not Local 174, was rejected by a 56%-44% margin with approximately 80% of the members at ABF participating in the vote.
At this time we are also in heavy preparations for our upcoming court date with Oak
Harbor. While we have attempted everything possible to get a contract done the company refuses to listen to what our members need so the next step is to take the company to Federal Court in front of an Administrative Law Judge and force the company do to the right thing. While it will be time consuming we are confident that our position is valid and the members of Oak Harbor will have justice served when all is said and done. Over at Peninsula Truck Lines the members are hopeful that increased volumes will allow them to recover some of the concessions they gave back to the company in 2009. The concession agreement allowed for the Union and the Company to meet at the end of the 2nd quarter of 2010 (after June) to discuss where the Company is at financially. While this is no guarantee we all remain hopeful that Peninsula has turned the corner from our most troubled economic times in decades.
Reddaway has yet to ask to resume discussions concerning the open contract there. The votes were tallied on March 8, 2010 and it was overwhelmingly turned down. We will let you know of any new developments as soon as we can.
Dolphins, Sea Lions on Guard at Wash. Base
BREMERTON, Wash. - The Navy says dolphins and sea lions will stand guard this
year at a Washington state submarine base to detect any underwater swimmers
who might approach the base on Hood Canal.
The Navy is keeping security details secret, but the environmental impact statement for the project said there would be fewer than 20 animals kept in heated enclosures when not on patrol.
Marine mammals have been used as guards for years at another Trident submarine base at King's Bay, Ga.
Union’s Strong Track Record the Decisive Factor
University of California Employees Affiliate With the Teamsters
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters announced today that it has formally affiliated with the 14,000-strong Coalition of University Employees (CUE), making the University of California Union a chartered Teamster Local.
The agreement comes after the overwhelming majority – 81 percent – of voting members voted in favor of the affiliation. CUE represents 14,000 administrative and library assistants, cashiers, public safety dispatchers and many other clerical employees at 11 University of California campuses throughout the state.
“We welcome this affiliation with CUE and we will work hard on the members’ behalf for a fair contract with the University of California,” said Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa. “The Teamsters are experts in representing education employees at all levels, and we will bring this knowledge to the negotiating table.”
“From this day forward, an act of aggression against CUE members and Local leadership is an act against the Teamsters, and that includes attempts by other unions to replace CUE as the certified representative of the 14,000 employees in the CUE bargaining unit,” Hoffa said.
On Tuesday, the California Superior Court threw out a legal challenge to the vote filed by a few individualsas part of their attempt to decertify the union. The Judge found that the challenge lacked merit.
“Our members voted to affiliate with the Teamsters because of the union’s strong track record of representing public service and university employees,” said Anytra Henderson, acting president of the statewide CUE. The Teamsters represent more than 225,000 public service employees throughout North America.
“This overwhelming vote for the Teamsters makes us stronger,” said Linda Doran, a CUE librarian at the Riverside campus. “Now, all the employees have to pull together so we can build a solid campaign for a fair contract.”
“In tough times, people want a tough, professional union,” said Michael Filler, Director of the Teamsters Public Services Division. “Now that the affiliation is completed, we will begin the strategic planning process with CUE leaders, stewards and activists throughout the state.”
CUE approached the Teamsters earlier this year about forming an affiliation, said Rome Aloise, Western Region Vice President for the Teamsters, President of Joint Council 7, and the Secretary-Treasurer of Local 853 in San Leandro, Calif.
“CUE came to us because they appreciated the professionalism of the Teamsters and our ability to get the job done,” Aloise said. “We were able to gain this affiliation with the help of our Organizing Department and the Public Services Division.”
“Teamsters organizers fanned out across the 10 University of California campuses to assist CUE to mobilize their members for this historic affiliation,” said Jeff Farmer, Director of the Teamsters’ Organizing Department. “These members join a growing movement of workers across the country seeking Teamster power.”
Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.
Attacks Highlight Understaffing of Cook County Courts System
Court Service Deputies Attacked, Told Not to File Charges
JOINT COUNCIL #25: Supervisors at the Cook County Criminal Courts Building told
two court service deputies represented by Teamsters Local 700 they were not to
file charges after being attacked on April 27.
The deputies were taken to an area hospital for soft-tissue damage after being assaulted by three relatives of Miguel Flores, who was killed in a 2007 crash involving a Chicago police officer. On Tuesday, the grieving Flores family lashed out at the deputies after a Cook County judge ruled the implicated officer was arrested without probable cause following the accident.
Though other officers were able to eventually respond to the attack inside the courthouse, the deputies received deep bruises, significant scratches, swelling and other injuries after being repeatedly struck by members of the Flores family. It was while at the hospital undergoing X-rays that Chief Deputies Kelly Jackson and Don Milazzo informed the union officers that their attackers would be released without charges.
“County officials are sweeping this assault under the rug either out of sympathy for those who waged it or because they’re fully aware that too few deputies are serving our courts,” said William P. Logan, Local 700 Assistant Trustee. “Sadly, officials once again are continuing to put politics ahead of the principle of law in Chicago.”
In December 2009, Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart proposed a plan to close four suburban county courtrooms on the weekends to better use available deputies. According to the sheriff’s office, there are entire floors of some Cook County courtrooms that have one deputy assigned to them. On Saturday and Sunday alone, the bond courts of the Criminal Courts Building at 26th Street and California Avenue routinely see more than 100 defendants.
“There are more than 350 courtrooms in Cook County and officials know there are simply not enough deputies to assign to all areas,” said Becky Strzechowski, Local 700 Assistant Trustee. “Unless the county recognizes the danger it is putting its workers and citizens in every day, more officers will be injured in our courts and more officials will try to cover up their inaction.”
Teamsters Local 700, an affiliate of Teamsters Joint Council 25, represents more
than 13,000 public employees throughout Chicago and Illinois.
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Teamsters at Coke Bargain for a Fair Contract
April 20, 2010: Negotiations between the multi-Union coalition of Teamsters Locals and Coke are now well underway. As of April 20, the parties had met five times, with bargaining sessions taking place on April 8, April 13-15, and April 19-20. Bargaining has been has been delayed somewhat due to the company's postponement of dates that were originally scheduled for late January. Read more here.
Judges and Assistants Needed For WTA Trucking
Association Rodeo
We are looking for volunteer judges for the WTA Trucking Association Rodeo. The event will be on June 26, 2010. Please note that the location for the Rodeo HAS BEEN CHANGED to the Boeing Space & Defense location at West Valley Hwy and 212th in Kent, WA It is a all-day event. Food will be provided for all of the volunteers.
If you're interested, please contact David Jacobsen at Teamsters Local 174 by phone at 206-441-6060. You will need to fill out this form and submit it no later than May 15, 2010.
Teamsters Launch Campaign:
'FedEx Drivers Aren't Pilots'
(April 28, 2010) — Ground control to FedEx: Your drivers aren’t pilots.
The Teamsters Union launched a campaign today to level the playing field in the package delivery industry. Through advertising, a website and videos, the Teamsters are urging Congress to pass legislation closing the loophole that gives FedEx (NYSE: FDX) a special status. That status allows FedEx Express to treat its truck drivers as airline workers.
“This is a simple issue of fairness,” said Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa. “No company should be able to hide behind a special deal bought by political influence. It’s time to level the playing field and close the FedEx loophole.”
Through the new website, www.FedExDriversArentPilots.com, the campaign points out that FedEx Express is the only freight and package delivery company in the United States allowed to classify truck drivers, sorters, loaders and unloaders as airline workers. More than 90,000 FedEx Express employees who never even touch an airplane are treated as airline workers under the Railway Labor Act. Truck drivers, sorters, loaders and unloaders at small businesses, UPS and every other freight and package delivery company in the United States are under the National Labor Relations Act.
“Have you ever had a FedEx package delivered to your house by airplane? Of course not,” said Ken Hall, Teamsters Vice President and Package Division Director. “FedEx’s attempt to preserve its special political favor by arguing the company is an airline is absolutely ridiculous.”
FedEx has about 13,000 more truck drivers than UPS, according to the U.S. Transportation Department. Recently, FedEx trucks logged about 165 million more miles per year than UPS.
Congress is currently considering legislation, the Express Carrier Employee Protection Act, to end the special treatment that FedEx lobbyists won in 1996. The measure would establish one set of rules for all package delivery companies. The provision is in the House-passed version of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Bill, which also includes important safety measures for the traveling public and the industry, and would create more than 125,000 new jobs each year.
The “FedEx Drivers Aren’t Pilots” campaign includes advertising and a video highlighting the absurdity of truck drivers being treated the same as airline pilots. The effort also will mobilize concerned citizens from across the country, including 1.4 million Teamsters, to voice their support for a level playing field.
For more information, visit www.FedExDriversArentPilots.com.
Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, including 250,000 workers at UPS.
Teamsters move to minimize effect
on public and return to bargaining table
April 22, 2010 -- Waste Management Sanitation Workers who service King and Snohomish
County will return to work unconditionally at midnight to prevent a
public health crisis and to minimize service disruptions to area businesses
and residents.
“The public comes first,” said Ewart Grove Jr., a 25-year Waste Management employee. “We won’t stand by and let Waste Management break federal labor laws, but we also won’t let this company hold our community hostage to its illegal actions.”
Union representatives expect seven hundred area sanitation workers will resume normal operations Friday morning to catch up on the backlog created by yesterday’s work stoppage.
“We are trying to persuade Waste Management to stop bargaining in bad faith,” said Rick Hicks, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 174. “However, we are also concerned that if we continued the strike, Waste Management might lockout our members and create another Oakland.”
When Waste Management locked out sanitation workers in Oakland, California many residents did not receive trash pick up service for one month.
“At the urging of Seattle Mayor McGinn and King County Executive Constantine, we commit to getting this done at the bargaining table and to keep the public out of it, if possible,” added Hicks. On Wednesday, McGinn and Constantine issued a joint letter encouraging both parties to return to the table and resume work as quickly as possible.
The Company did not respond directly to the Union’s renewed request of today to return to the bargaining table and negotiate in good faith. Instead, Waste Management today chose again to deal directly with Union members. Nevertheless, Hicks said, “we will take management at their word when they promised our members that the Company will bargain in good faith.”
Critical issues remain to be resolved. “There is no reason why Waste Management can’t provide the same healthcare protections provided by its competitors,” said Tracey Thompson, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 117. “With the amount of money this company is spending to fly over 500 strikebreakers to Seattle they could easily match Allied Waste and CleanScapes healthcare packages and give their customers a rate break.”
Waste collection and disposal ranks as the fifth most dangerous job in the U.S. Waste Management employees regularly report being exposed to human feces, rats, rotting meat, maggots, dirty needles, blood products and medical waste.
Good News for Teamsters!
Todd Begins Work on Second 64-Car Ferry
SEATTLE — Construction began Monday on a new 64-car ferry, the second in Washington State Ferries’ Kwa-di Tabil class.
The new ferry, being built at Todd Pacific Shipyards, will eventually join the Chetzemoka on the Port Townsend-Keystone route. The Chetzemoka, was towed to Todd’s subcontractor, Everett Shipyard, earlier this month for final outfitting, system testing and sea trials.
The new ferry hasn’t been named. The Washington State Transportation Commission is accepting proposals until the end of the month.
The Chetzemoka is scheduled to go into service in late summer after several weeks of WSF sea trials and crew training. The second boat would join the route in 2011. Todd is also preparing to build a third 64-car ferry that will replace the 63-year-old Rhododendron on the Point Defiance-Tahlequah route in 2012.
Todd won a $114 million contract to build the second and third boats. It contains an option to build a fourth vessel, which the state must exercise by May 31, 2011. The fourth vessel would be either a 64-car ferry or 144-car ferry, depending on the amount of funds available.
Also on Monday, the agency ended an effort to sell two old passenger-only ferries on eBay.
Local 174 members are in charge of the Transportation Dept. at Todd Pacific Shipyard. We have about 25 drivers/ Bull drivers. Are members work in Seattle, Bremerton (PSNS Naval ShipYard), Everett Naval Shipyard.
Business Agent David Jacobsen is Vice President of the Puget Sound Metal Trades Council.
Washington State Ferries is now 1-for-9 in selling vessels on the online auction site after nobody bid on the passenger ferries Skagit and Kalama. The agency wanted $300,000 apiece for the 21-year-old, 250-passenger boats. The 10-day relisting ran out on Friday.
Now WSF will ask for authority from the U.S. General Service Administration to negotiate a sale of the boats and spare parts with a broker, like it did for the four Steel Electric-class ferries and the passenger-only ferries Chinook and Snohomish. The Skagit and Kalama were built in New Orleans and bought in 1989 for $5 million.
The Tyee was the only boat WSF ever sold on eBay. A Florida boat broker bought it in 2003. He sold it back to a group of Seattle businessmen who renamed it Aqua Express and ran it for a while in 2005 between Kingston and downtown Seattle.
The Skagit and Kalama primarily operated between Vashon Island and downtown Seattle. King County took over the route and leased a faster, smoother, quieter, boat — the Melissa Ann — last fall.
Read more: http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2010/apr/19/todd-begins-work-on-second-64-car-ferry/#ixzz0lgwuVRJj
For more information on new vessel construction, visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/Ferries/.
Historical Event as Washington State Trades People Take the Lead in Training Heroes
Shelley Thompson (Pasco Training Center), Melina Harris ( Sisters in the building trades President), John Williams (Teamsters Joint Council No. 28 President), Shawn Long (Local #174 member), Tom Hamilton (Pasco Training Center) Rick Hicks (Local #174 Secretary-Treasurer)
In response to this, concerned citizens from Emergency Management and the Building Trades started working on a program to train construction trades people to safely volunteer and work on disaster sites. One of the pioneers, Lee Newgent, now at the King County Building Trades Council, responded to the disasters at The Federal Building in Oklahoma and to Ground Zero after 9/11. Being a worker on those sites he noted the need for increased communication, chain of command and safety training for the responders. He helped design a training program in Seattle, F.I.R.S.T. (First Responders and Skilled Trades), a joint training for City of Seattle Firefighters, Operating Engineers, Ironworkers and Laborers to work together to respond to disasters locally. This training was so well received by all its participants that it has become the model for others throughout the country.
OSHA used that training outline to build its OSHA Construction Worker Disaster Training (OSHA 7600), a 16 hour disaster site safety course. It addresses the different sorts of safety hazards workers might encounter in responding to a disaster site. In a normal work environment, unidentified airborne particles, downed electrical lines, unlabelled confined spaces filled with toxic fumes, chemical spills, and unstable structures are not usually a factor. Disaster recovery workers will often face these challenges as well as the difficulties of working with and for people they are unfamiliar with, in a dangerous and emotionally charged environment where it is hard to remember to keep your safety and your coworkers' safety as a first priority. The OSHA-7600 course trains recovery workers- who come on a site after first responders- to navigate those kinds of hazards while helping their communities recover.
It is now possible to acquire a “Program Card” - a Federal Card for disaster response, for those that have taken OSHA 10, OSHA 7600, and a 40 hour Hazwopper card - as a trained disaster response worker.
Sisters in the Building Trades, a tradeswomen's organization based in western Washington, is using its unique ability to reach out across trades and agencies to spearhead a project to create a critical mass of cardholding trained workers in Puget Sound, so that in the event of an earthquake, the eruption of mount Rainier, a terrorist attack, or any other big emergency, we have a trained workforce to call upon to get us back on our feet without sacrificing recovery workers' health. The program currently offers the OSHA 7600 Training, OSHA 10, HAZWOPER 40, First Aid, and is implementing a database of trained volunteers and equipment that could be volunteered, for Emergency Management officials to call upon when needed.
In November 2009, 3 Teamsters attended the first Sisters in the Building Trades organized OSHA 7600 training and an introduction to the F.I.R.S.T program. The November Training was the first time Washington State Emergency Management or King County Emergency Management had been fully introduced to these programs.
Since then 18 more Teamsters have attended the Sisters’ OSHA 10 class in February 2010 and 19 attended the second Disaster Response training on March 6th & 7th, 2010. These Teamsters now have the knowledge and training to be called out to help in the aftermath of a natural or man made disaster. Any Teamster who takes the time to certify themselves as a disaster responder will be ready to help their community, know better how to keep themselves and their family safe, and will have certifications that can be helpful in many jobs and which are required for others. This training has so far been offered without charge thanks to generous sponsorships from local organizations and community colleges who found it worthwhile. Due to the nature of disasters, you never know when you might need it. Congratulations to the 22 teamsters who have taken advantage of this opportunity- it is invaluable training we should all consider.
Yard
Sign Solidarity Action Day April 18th
Last
Sunday, we made thousands of yard signs that say, "Tell Waste
Management to Stop Trashing our Community." Now we need your
help to put yard signs up in the front yards of thousands of residents
of King County and southern Snohomish County. Volunteer to put up yard
signs this Sunday.
What: Deliver Waste Management Yard Signs
to Residents
Where: Teamster Union Hall
14675
Interurban Avenue South
Tukwila,
WA 98168
Date: Sunday, April 18, 2010
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Oak Harbor Update on
Upcoming NLRB trial and
new contract proposal
This memorandum is
intended to give you an update on the upcoming National Labor Relations
Board (NLRB) trial, and to present to you a summary of a contract
proposal that will be submitted to your employer in advance
of contract negotiations scheduled on April 15, 2010. All Local Unions
representing Oak Harbor members are presenting this memorandum at all
facilities and are available to review it with you and answer any questions.
The Unfair
Labor Practice Complaint issued by the NLRB against Oak
Harbor, which describes the charges that are the subject of the trial,
and a complete copy of the union’s contract proposal to the employer
will be available at www.oakharborteamsters.com April 12, 2010.
A hearing before an Administrative Law Judge
(ALJ) is scheduled to begin on June 29, 2010. Given the number of unfair
labor practice charges and the complexity of the case, a decision from
the ALJ could take as long as a year to issue. In the meantime, negotiations
have been scheduled April 15 at the Federal Mediation and Conciliation
Service, and a mediator will be present with the parties. It is possible
that these negotiations could resolve some or all of the charges that
are scheduled for hearing.
The Union’s contract proposals include the following important
features:
- Retains key provisions of the current no subcontracting provisions with some modifications;
- Modifies several bidding procedure rules, but keeps the most important bidding rights intact;
- Protects regular workweek guarantees and also provides the employer greater workday and workweek flexibility;
- Modifies the probationary period and its application;
- Retains accrued time loss disability but eliminates future accrual of time loss disability;
- Retains key provisions of the discipline and grievance procedures with some modifications;
- Continues the company health & welfare plan, with progressive funding caps for active employees;
- Provides for retiree health & welfare coverage under the Washington State Retiree Welfare Trust for all employees (except those Oregon members who are already retired under the Local 206 plan) subject to Trust approval;
- Continues participation in the Western Conference of Teamsters Pension Trust at the current contribution rates; and,
- Protects current wage scales, but no wage increases for the remainder of the contract duration (expires 10/31/13).
This union proposal was developed as a counter
to the employer’s most recent offer. It is your Union Bargaining
Committee’s judgment that this proposal has the best chance of
providing a structure for a settlement to be achieved prior to the
ALJ hearing. If this round of bargaining leads to a proposal that can
be recommended by your Union Committee, there will be a ratification
vote scheduled. The ratification process will include a complete discussion
of all terms of the offer, implications of ratification or rejection,
and other matters the membership will need to make an informed vote.
In summary, your Union Bargaining Committee recognizes that the opportunity
to settle your Labor Agreement prior to the ALJ hearing warrants the
steps taken to present this proposal in the upcoming negotiation meeting.
Although our attorneys are confident that we have a good chance to
prevail in that hearing, there is always a chance that we could have
an adverse decision that could undermine our future bargaining position.
There are other factors including the state of the economy, other union
and non-union trucking labor rates, and the health of your employer
that are being considered in the current negotiating opportunity. How
such factors may change, or not change if we do not settle a labor
agreement at this time have also been weighed by your Union Committee.
Obviously, it will depend on whether the company recognizes the value
of settling the Labor Agreement at this time. Given the fact that the
Union workforce will ultimately require that a Collective Bargaining
Agreement be resolved, that the business is slowly improving, and the
good working relationships that are returning throughout the union
terminals, it would be reasonable for the employer to seek a settlement
at this time. The proposal being submitted by your Union constitutes
a fair basis for both sides to go forward.