Local #174 Teamster News Archives
April 2011

 

 

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Plan to Protect 25,000 YRCW Freight Jobs Clears Important Financial Hurdle
Posted April 29, 2011
Source: Teamsters.com
The restructuring plan to protect 25,000 Teamster freight jobs at YRC Worldwide, Inc. (YRCW) has cleared an important hurdle and remains on track to be completed in July, Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa announced today.

The Teamsters National Freight Industry Negotiating Committee (TNFINC), along with lenders and the Teamster multi-employer pension funds, has entered into definitive agreements to move forward with the planned restructuring of YRCW. With the support of more than 95 percent of the senior secured lenders, 100 percent of the pension funds and 100 percent of the existing ABS lenders, this vote clears the way in moving the restructuring forward to close as planned in July.

”Saving the jobs of our 25,000 freight members at YRCW remains our number one priority so we welcome this news today,” Hoffa said. “These agreements and the support of the company’s primary stakeholders represent a significant step forward in the company’s restructuring plan and help to assure the continued momentum of the transaction. We will continue to be involved every step of the way to make sure this plan is completed and our members continue behind the wheels and on the docks.”   Read the complete source story here.

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Passing of Gregory Slaughter
Posted April 27, 2011

Source: JC28
Gregory Slaughter passed on April 16, 2011. He was bom in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Greg's family relocated to the Northwest when he was 6 years old due his father's career as a civil engineer. They eventually settled in Kennewick, Washington.

Greg began his career in Labor following graduate schooL Greg fought for workers rights beginning at SEIU Local 6 and then moving on to Teamsters Local Union No. 763, SEIU Local 925 and finally at Teamsters Local Union No. 117. Greg was a skilled negotiator who took pride in promoting unionism and being of service to others. Greg touched many lives over his 27 year career.

Greg is survived by his wife Elizabeth, parents John and Mary Slaughter, sister Johnetta Rowsey, brothers Dwane Slaughter and Anthony (Stephanie) Slaughter and numerous Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Nieces, Nephews and God Children.

A Memorial to Celebrate Greg's life will be held on Saturday, April 30, 2011, 2:00 p.m. at Bonney-Watson Washington Memorial Park located at 16445 International Blvd., SeaTac, Washington 98188.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to a charity of personal choice.

Further information is available at http://bonneywatson.com/_mgxroot/page_10775.php?id=921254

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Does Walmart do What Walmart Says They’ll Do for Local Communities?
Posted April 27, 2011
Source: UFCW 21
A few years ago, it seemed that Walmart was retreating from efforts to expand its stores in Snohomish County. The December 7th 2007 headline in the Everett Herald read: “Walmart Retreats from Snohomish County, Mill Creek Store Scuttled; Arlington, Marysville Plans Delayed.”

Now, Walmart appears to be coming back full steam ahead into the county — and around the world — with promises that new stores will bring along new economic growth. In an effort to clean up a tarnished public image, Walmart is often marketing itself to local communities with promises — promises the company will provide a range of benefits around jobs, wages, and tax revenue for local government.

A concern has emerged that these promises may not end up being true. Even more troubling, Walmart may be intentionally distorting or hiding the truth behind some of the claims. And local officials who do not get promises in written, enforceable agreements, may see those promised benefits disappear after a store opens.

This brief report focuses on Snohomish County, WA where Walmart is expanding — and pushing to expand even more. If there is a track record of broken promises, local politicians could help protect local communities and improve working conditions by making sure they hold Walmart to its word. In addition, community benefits, economic growth and tax revenue claims should, at the very least, be guaranteed.   Read the source document here.

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City Council Toughens Penalties for Wage Theft
Posted April 27, 2011
Source: Seattle PI
The Seattle City Council on Monday unanimously approved tougher penalties on employers who hire workers and don't pay them, a crime known as wage theft.

The ordinance makes it a gross misdemeanor to intentionally commit wage theft and adds new definitions of conduct that is considered illegal. It also clarifies city law to apply either at the "place where the agreement for service was made or at the location where the services are performed," so that workers hired in Seattle for work outside city limits also would be protected.

It aims to address increasing complaints about employers hiring day-laborers and not fully paying them, or at all, for their services. Many times, workers who aren't paid are immigrants hired by unlicensed or disreputable construction firms. Workers then fear retaliation if they complain.   Read the source story here.

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NLRB Issues Complaint Over Boeing’s Move to S.C.
Posted April 21, 2011
Source: AFL-CIO Now Blog
 A complaint issued today by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against the Boeing Co. is a victory for all American workers—particularly aerospace workers in both Puget Sound and South Carolina, officials with the Machinists (IAM) said.

NLRB Acting General Counsel Lafe Solomon issued the complaint, which alleges that Boeing’s decision in 2009 to locate a Dreamliner 787 final assembly line in North Charleston, S.C., represented illegal retaliation against IAM members who work for the company. The NLRB is seeking a court order requiring Boeing to operate the second 787 line, including supply lines, with union workers in the Puget Sound

“Boeing’s decision to build a 787 assembly line in South Carolina sent a message that Boeing workers would suffer financial harm for exercising their collective bargaining rights,” said IAM Vice President Rich Michalski.
Federal labor law is clear: It’s illegal to threaten or penalize workers who engage in concerted activity.
The decision by Boeing to locate the assembly line in South Carolina followed years of 787 production delays and an extraordinary round of mid-contract talks in which the IAM proposed an 11-year agreement to provide Boeing with the labor stability it claimed was necessary to keep 787 production in the Puget Sound area.

The board’s action reinforces the fact that “workers have a right to join a union, and companies don’t have a right to punish them for engaging in legal union activities,” said Tom Wroblewski, president of Machinists District Lodge 751 in Seattle, which represents Boeing workers.
Taking work away from workers because they exercise their union rights is against the law, and it’s against the law in all 50 states.
The board’s complaint comes in response to an unfair labor practice charge filed in March 2010 by District 751.   Read the source story here.

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Workers Memorial Day Honors Those Killed on Job, Including BP Rig Workers
Posted April 20, 2011
Source: AFL-CIO Now Blog
On April 28, as they call for tougher job safety laws as part of the 22nd annual Workers Memorial Day, workers across the country will honor those killed on the BP Deepwater/Horizon rig and the thousands more killed on the job each year. (Click here to find a Workers Memorial Day event near you or to register an event).

In 2009, (the latest figures available) 4,340 workers were killed on the job and another 50-00060,000 died of occupational diseases. Also more than 4.1 million workplace injuries and illnesses were reported in private and state and local workplaces.

April 28 was chosen as Workers Memorial Day Workers because it is the anniversary of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the date the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act) went into effective. This year is the 40th anniversary of both and the law has saved an estimated 431,000 lives since 1970.

But much work remains to do be done in addressing new hazards, tougher enforcement and workers’ safety rights. Click here to read more.

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'Washington Workplaces Just Got a Whole Lot Safer'
Posted April 20, 2011
Source: WSLC
Each year, hundreds of workplace hazards across the state are left uncorrected, exposing many workers to potential dangers while a business owner appeals a citation issued by the Department of Labor and Industries. On April 15, Gov. Chris Gregoire signed a bill into law that changes this. SB 5068 amends the 1973 Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act to require businesses to correct serious safety violations -- and the hazards they pose -- during the appeal of any safety and health citation. Washington is the second state to pass such a law.

"With the signing of SB 5068, Washington workplaces just got a whole lot safer," said Jeff Johnson, President of the Washington State Labor Council. "Not only will this stop many preventable injuries from happening, I'm convinced it could save lives. Gov. Chris Gregoire, (bill sponsors) Sen. Steve Conway and Rep. Chris Reykdal, and all the legislators who supported this deserve our sincere thanks."

SB 5068 easily passed the Senate on a bipartisan 47-2 vote, but encountered opposition in the House. The Washington Farm Bureau and some other business groups began lobbying against it, claiming it was unnecessary. After Republicans failed to pass a floor amendment exempting businesses with fewer than 50 employees (which would have exempted more than 90% of all businesses in the state), SB 5068 passed on a 55-41 vote. Every Democrat voted yes, and every Republican voted no.

Under existing rules, if a business appeals an L&I citation involving a serious workplace safety violation, there is no obligation to correct the hazard for which they were cited until the appeal is resolved. This can take months or even years and expose some workers to uncorrected hazards.     Read the entire source story here.

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April 2011 Freight Division Report
Posted April 19, 2011
By Brian Davis, Business Agent

Oak Harbor
Since our last report there has been some news on the Oak Harbor NLRB court case. The Administrative Law Judge ruled in favor of our Oak Harbor members on about 2/3 of what we had originally claimed. This is good news because what he ordered was significantly more expensive to the Company than if he had gone the other way. We all know that employers don’t always listen to reason; they only listen when they get hit in the pocket book. Since we only prevailed on about 2/3 we have filed an appeal with the NLRB which should be heard sometime in the future in Washington D.C. and we are confident that we will prevail on our entire claim against this ruthless Company.

Another part of the ALJ decision is an order to bargain. We are trying to schedule dates with the Company and the Federal Mediator as this goes to print so hopefully we can make some progress and we will be sure to let you know how that goes.

Reddaway
After negotiating with this Employer since 2007 we can announce that the members at Reddaway have agreed to the YRC MOU, Amended MOU and the Restructuring Plan, along with a contract that will carry them into 2015. YRC is the parent company of Reddaway. While the YRC MOU’s and Restructuring Plan call for concessions and work rule changes the contract that was achieved will help make the concessions a bit more bearable. Having the MOU’s be put in front of us and then having the opportunity to bargain the contract at the same time put us in a unique situation with unique opportunity. The MOU’s and Restructuring Plan were non-negotiable since they were struck between YRCW and TNFINC and all employees had to accept these terms.

The company, to survive so they said, needed some things. That opened the door for us to get some things we had been trying for years to get and we succeeded in almost every way. I am proud that our members at Reddaway voted twice to reject the Company offers and in turn sent us back to the table where we ended up getting enough, even with all the concessions, to get a deal passed. It wasn’t easy and isn’t going to get any easier with this Company but now we can hopefully look forward to bringing it back to what it once was.

YRC
The Teamsters National Freight Industry Negotiating Committee (TNFINC) approved a restructuring agreement, as mentioned above, that paves the way to save the jobs of 25,000 YRCW Teamsters and keep the company in business. The Union reached the agreement in principle on terms for restructuring YRC Worldwide, Inc with the company and the existing lending group.

The terms of the agreement address key conditions- debt reduction and new capital- as set forth by the TNFINC in the Restructuring Plan/MOU and are designed to provide significant liquidity to YRCW to assure operational and job security for the company, its customers and the YRCW Teamsters going forward. We hope that for all our members have done to save this company it is worth it in the end. The members’ sacrifices have been enormous and should not go unappreciated by YRCW.

ABF
ABF Freight Systems Inc. is appealing the federal judges’ decision to dismiss its legal challenge of concessions negotiated between YRC Worldwide Inc, and the Teamsters Union.

ABF based in Fort Smith, Arkansas sent its case to the 8th U.S. Court of Appeals in St. Louis. Judge Susan Webber Wright of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas granted motions to dismiss, for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, a lawsuit filed by ABF Freight. The suit alleged that the Teamsters and YRCW and its subsidiaries violated the national Master Freight Agreement by negotiating the concessionary amendments to the collective bargaining agreement that covers most unionized trucking employees in the country.

Horizon Lines
Horizon Lines, Inc. has confirmed that it has entered into a plea agreement with the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. Under the Agreement, which is subject to court approval, Horizon Lines will plead guilty to a charge of violating federal antitrust laws solely with respect to the Puerto Rico trade lane and pay a fine of $45 million over 5 years without interest. With a resolution of the DOJ investigation, Horizon Lines is in discussions with some of its lenders to waive a judgment default that will arise from the plea agreement and to provide financial covenant relief as the company seeks new long-term financing. Horizon Lines has also entered into a MOU on February 22, 2011, with the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and attorneys representing indirect purchasers. The indirect purchasers allege they paid inflated prices for goods imported to Puerto Rico. Under the MOU, the company has agreed to pay 1.8 Million in exchange for a full release. The settlement agreement, when negotiated and entered into by the parties, will be subject to court approval.

United Warehouse/ Herche Transfer –
The Company has asked to begin bargaining a successor agreement as soon as possible. We will keep you apprised as this situation unfolds.

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Teamsters: Will Vigorously Oppose Border Truck Plan
Posted April 15, 2011
Source: The Trucker.com
Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa said recently that union members will “vigorously oppose a dangerous plan to open the border to Mexico, a country ravaged by a drug war.”

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) recently outlined its proposal to open the border to Mexican trucks and just started its 30-day comment period.

Hoffa said the Transportation Department’s move “shows reckless disregard for American jobs and for public safety as well as for the stewardship of U.S. tax dollars.

“Do Transportation Department officials read the news?” Hoffa said. “In the past week, eight people were killed in Ciudad Juarez within a half hour. A mass grave was discovered 80 miles from Brownsville, Texas, with 59 bodies in it. A federal prosecutor was kidnapped and murdered in Durango after she’d been on the job for a week. Five men were killed in Taxco during another kidnapping attempt.”

“What is it about Mexico’s drug violence that DOT doesn’t understand?” he said.   Read entire source story here.

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The Coming Driver Shortage
Posted April 15, 2011
Source: Heavy Duty Trucking
Magazine CoverLittle doubt exists across this industry that we are in for a dilly of a driver shortage. We've experienced labor challenges in the past, and have survived, but this go-around will be different. The anticipated depth of the pending labor crisis could be several times what we faced five or six years ago. Industry experts are predicting a shortage of 150,000, 300,000, 500,000 or more drivers by next year. It's likely that more than a few carriers around today will not see 2015 - not because of regulatory intervention, or poor financial performance, but because they were unable to maintain requisite staffing levels.

Growth in demand appears poised to occur at precisely the time we will face our greatest staffing challenges. The mechanicals of ramping up the recruiting process will take more time than we have. Transportation analyst Noel Perry has suggested carriers will have to conduct 1.5 million conversations to generate 500,000 applications. Of those, he predicts two-thirds won't make it past the drug screens and criminal background checks required in some applications. And stricter documentation required of immigrants will remove much of that potential driver pool.

On top of that, a predicted 3-to-1 hiring to retention ratio will further clutter the picture with significant churning and turnover.

Donald Broughton, senior transportation analyst with Avondale Partners, predicts that in the next two years, "the most critical factor for truckers will be the ability to find drivers and owner-operators. That will be the single biggest differentiating factor between trucking company A and trucking company B."    Read complete source story here.

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Foreclosure Fairness Act to Become Law
Posted April 13, 2011
Source: Washington State House of Representatives
Gov. Christine Gregoire will sign the Foreclosure Fairness Act of 2011 into law tomorrow, April 14, 2011 at 10 a.m.

77,000 families lost their homes to foreclosure over a period of two years. With 4,385 new foreclosures in February of 2011, Washington now holds the 11th highest foreclosure rate in the nation.

The law, sponsored by state Rep. Tina Orwall (D-Des Moines), will bring a new tool to the foreclosure process that will help thousands of Washington homeowners facing foreclosure.

“Approximately 45,000 families will receive notices of foreclosure this year, but we are providing new hope for many of them with a fair process and resources to help them explore every option available and keep their homes whenever possible,” Orwall said.

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Employee Twitter Posting Protected Under NLRB
Posted April 13, 2011
The National Labor Relations Board is prepared to file a complaint against Thomson-Reuters alleging that the company unlawfully reprimanded an employee for a Twitter message that was critical of management.    This would be the first NLRB case against an employer based on a Twitter posting.

The New York Times reported on April 8, 2011 that the employee, an environmental reporter who also heads the Newspaper Guild at Reuters, sent the message in response to a supervisor’s invitation to post suggestions as to how to make Reuters the best place to work.  According to the Times, her post said “One way to make this the best place to work is to deal honestly with Guild members.”  The next day she received a call at home from the Washington bureau chief who informed her that the company had a policy prohibiting employees from publicly saying things that would damage its reputation. The Guild and Reuters have been without a contract for 26 months. 

 Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act, among other things, protects employees’ right to discuss their working conditions.  An employer commits an unfair labor practice in violation of Section 8(a)(1) of the Act if it attempts to interfere with or coerce employees exercising these rights.  The Labor Board is expected to issue a complaint on the theory that the supervisor’s reprimand violated the employee’s federally protected right to discuss her working conditions. 

 The current board, under Chairman Wilma Liebman, appears to recognize the importance of making collective bargaining rights relevant in the era of social media.  In February, the NLRB reached a settlement with a Connecticut ambulance company accused of firing an employee for posting negative comments about a supervisor on her Facebook page.

 Employers and employees alike often do not realize that conversations about working conditions or about organizing a union do not lose the protection of federal law merely because they take the form of an electronic message or “tweet”.   The fundamental right to complain about your supervisor, or to act in concert with coworkers to improve your working conditions, lies at the heart of the National Labor Relations Act.   This principle will grow in importance as more workplace related discussions flourish online or through social media networks. 

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Union Members Descend on Olympia to Protest Budget Cuts
Posted April 12, 2011
Source: Kitsap Sun
Worker solidarity. Budget cuts. Tax breaks. Wisconsin.

That's what brought an estimated 7,000 people to the steps of the state Capitol on Friday.

"The legislators see us outside and see what we represent," said Steve Davidson, a firefighter with Central Kitsap Fire and Rescue and a member of the Kitsap County-based Local 2819 of the International Association of Firefighters. "It makes a difference."

"We're standing with all workers across the state and across the nation," said CK firefighter John Tollefson, a member of the same local.

The rally-goers focused on preserving union jobs, protesting anti-union legislation, fighting against education and health care budget cuts, and calling for the end of tax breaks.

But one matter got under the skin of Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island and chairwoman of the Senate Transportation Committee, which handles most ferry issues — a couple of the protest signs that slammed her.

Terri Mast, an official of the Inlandboatmen's union, criticized a Haugen bill that made ferry captains and chief engineers members of management. The ferry unions opposed that bill.   Read the entire source story here.

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Thousands Protest in Olympia Over Proposed Budget Cuts 
Posted April 10, 2011Rally Photos Here
Source: Seattle Times
The boisterous chant "We are union! We are one!" echoed throughout the state Capitol on Friday as thousands of union members protested budget cuts in what was the largest labor rally this legislative session.

The event attracted thousands of demonstrators, some who traveled hours from cities such as Bellingham and Spokane, to demand that lawmakers end corporate tax breaks to solve the multibillion-dollar budget shortfall.

[...] The rally included speeches from union leaders, students and Wisconsin state Sen. Spencer Coggs, who was one of 14 Democratic senators who fled to Illinois in a futile effort to prevent Wisconsin from passing legislation that would strip public employees of collective-bargaining rights. Coggs shared his experience with a cheering crowd.    Read the source story here.

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Sanitation Members Overwhelmingly Ratify Contract
Posted April 7, 2011
In recognition of a tremendous settlement reached between Teamsters Local 174 and a locally owned sanitation company, the members approved a new five-year contract on March 27 by a well deserved 98 percent margin. About 150 workers are covered by the contract.

“This is an example of the difference in negotiating with locally owned and community-based companies who care about their employees as opposed to negotiating with multi-national corporations who only care about profits,” said Rick Hicks, Secretary-Treasurer and lead negotiator for the union. “Over the next five years our members at CleanScapes will reach a compensation level of more than $30 per hour, continue with our top-flight medical plans at no additional costs to the members and increase their retirement another $1.05 per hour.”

“In addition to the phenomenal economic improvements, we achieved more than 75 language improvements for our members in a contract that was already recognized as one of the best in the country,” said Patty Warren, Sr., Business Agent and co-chair of the union’s bargaining committee.

“CleanScapes, a company that services a major portion of the City of Seattle, really stepped up in my opinion,” said Ken Marshall, sanitation Business Agent and Local 174 Vice President. “As a result, they have sent a strong message to all other cities that they are serious in being a major player in this market and beyond.”

Hicks added, “This is an historic agreement that was negotiated in 11 days of bargaining, completed prior to expiration and without any threats of strike or lockout from either side. This was one of the most professional negotiations we have had in years and CleanScapes should be proud of its commitment to its employees and to the community in general.”

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United Grocery Summit
Let’s Build the Power of a United Grocery Industry!
Posted April 5, 2011
Download the United Grocery Summit flyerThe Teamsters are holding an industry-wide Grocery Summit on May 21, 2011 to prepare for upcoming contract negotiations.

WHEN: SATURDAY, MAY 21, 2011
TIME: 10:00 A.M.
WHERE: TEAMSTERS BUILDING, 14675 INTERURBAN AVE.

The Summit aims at building solidarity and bringing the power of a united grocery membership into the bargaining process.

The Summit will be the first meeting for members of all the grocery houses to discuss ways to improve communication and establish partnerships across the industry before bargaining starts this year.

The Summit will also be an opportunity to meet and exchange ideas with other Teamster leaders in the industry and to identify key topics for contract negotiations.

Teamsters from Locals 117, 174, and 313 who work in the grocery industry at Safeway, Fred Meyer, Unified Grocers, and SuperValu will be in attendance.

Your participation in the Summit is a critical step to achieving the kind of strong Teamsters contract that the hardworking men and women of the Puget Sound grocery industry deserve.

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Final Washington State Ferries Union Ratifies New Contract with Budget Concessions
Posted April 1, 2011
Article provided by Ken Hovater, from the Kitsap Sun
Ferry workers, after forfeiting $18.3 million in raises the past two years, will accept a 3 percent pay cut for the next two. They'll also be paid less for overtime and travel time.

The agreements could save the ferry system up to $10 million a year.

The concessions come after four unions spent the past week ratifying new contracts with Washington State Ferries. Inland Boatsmen's, by far the largest, voted 474-54 in favor on Thursday.

That vote was preceded by approval from Metal Trades Council (59-27), Marine Engineers Beneficial Association (80 percent in favor), Masters, Mates and Pilots (114-12) and Office and Professional Employees International Union (28-0).

"I'm very appreciative of the support our employees bring to the table," said David Moseley, WSF director. "Labor stepped up to the plate and is part of the solution in helping us find a more financially sustainable ferry system."   Read the source story here.Back to top of page