Local #174 Teamster News Archives
September 2011

 

 

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174 at Longview Rally

We Are One...
Local 174 Participates in Longview Rally to Support Longshoremen
Posted: September 30, 2011
Source: KPTV
After a series of protests at the Port of Longview resulted in arrests, a rally in support of International Longshore Warehouse Union Local 21 remained peaceful Thursday evening.

That was a goal of organizers.  Volunteers handed out fliers proclaiming "THIS IS A PEACEFUL COMMUNITY RALLY" before it started.

ILWU Local 21 is in the midst of a bitter labor dispute with grain exporter EGT, which built a new grain terminal at the Port of Longview. 174 Banner at rally

The union believes it has the right to work at the new terminal, but the company believes it has the right to hire other union workers.

Hundreds, including Cowlitz County residents and members of other union, attended the rally. 
Read the complete source story and view the video here.

Photos From the Rally:
  • Teamsters174 Banner
  • Rally Signs
  • 174 Contingent
  • 174 with other ILWU supporters
  • Rally scene
  • Stop the War on Workers
  • Stop the War on Workers
  • Speakers
 

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Wall Street participant

Labor Movement Rolls Into Wall Street Occupation
Posted: September 30, 2011
Source: In These Times:
The steel and concrete of Lower Manhattan comes alive every day during rush hour, when gray suits pulse through subway tunnels and the city's arteries get choked with street vendors, construction workers and other folks hustling to make a living. Now that a bunch of rabble-rousers have occupied the neighborhood, the workers who form Gotham's backbone are starting to reclaim their turf as well.

It may be too early to draw parallels between the Occupy Wall Street protests at Zuccotti Park (aka Liberty Plaza) and their antecedents in Tahrir Square and Madison. But the movements suggest a general trajectory of grassroots organizing: a spark of protest led by younger activists, followed by the support of labor organizations, bringing up the rear and then moving to the fore.

By Wednesday, the Village Voice reported, the historically militant Transport Workers Union had voted to back, and provide food and services to, the Occupy Wall Street movement. In a video recorded during an evening protest, TWU Local 100 member Christine Williams declared, "The people have finally woke up. And we're here and we're staying and we're not going anywhere."

TWU spokesperson Jim Gannon told the Voice: " A motion was brought up to endorse the protests' goals; I don't know why it took us so long to do it." Better late than never, the union says it now plans to amass on the afternoon of October 5 and march to Zuccotti Park.
Read the complete source story here

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Rallying to Save the U.S. Postal Service
Posted September 29, 2011
► In today’s Columbian — Postal workers rally outside Herrera Beutler’s office — About 60 postal workers from across Southwest Washington rallied outside the Vancouver office of Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler to urge her support for a bill that would rescue the U.S. Postal Service from crippling budget cuts.

► In today’s Mercer Island Patch — USPS supporters hold rally outside Reichert’s office — The unions support a bill, H.R. 1351, which would allow pension overpayments in 2011 to be reallocated and transferred to the USPS health benefits fund. It currently has 216 sponsors in the U.S. House, but Rep. Dave Reichert is not listed among them.

► In today’s Yakima H-R — Demonstrators call on Doc to help save Postal Service — “Hopefully more people will speak up and we can grab the ear of people like Congressman Hastings,” said letter carrier Berneice Jenkins.

► In The Hill — Postal workers push Supercommittee!™ to delay benefits payment — Postal workers appear to be targeting Republicans for a good reason — Republicans so far seem to be considering solutions to the problem that involve significant cost-cutting at the USPS, rather than ways to let the service simply reschedule or rearrange its retiree benefits.

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Teamsters Protest Celebrity Gala At Met Museum
Posted: September 27, 2011
Source: Teamster.org

Professional art handlers and their supporters protested in front of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s annual diversity-themed gala yesterday. Protestors called on museum board members to end an eight-week-long lockout of professional art handlers at Sotheby’s Auction House. 

Despite making record profits of more than $680 million in gross profit last year, the auction house has locked out its staff of 43 art handlers, most of who are minorities. Sotheby’s wants to replace its longtime, dedicated art handlers with replacement workers. 

Metropolitan Museum board members Michel David-Weill and Carroll Petrie serve on the board of advisors at Sotheby’s. The protesters distributed handbills that read, “Michel David-Weill: Stop The Discrimination” and “What’s Gone Wrong at the Met?” 

“Throwing hard-working African-American and Latino workers out on the street without paychecks is the wrong way to celebrate diversity,” said Jason Ide, President of Teamsters Local 814. Local 814 represents the art handlers at Sotheby’s. 

Sotheby’s management continues to insist on eliminating retirement for current employees and eliminating benefits and union protections for all new employees. 

“It’s like they’re trying to take us back to the 1950s,” said forty-two year art handler Sim Jones. “This has always been a dignified job that you could be proud of. It looks like they’re trying to take that away.” 

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Ethics Complaint Prompts Investigation into Scott's Prison Privatization Plan
Posted: September 27, 2011
Source: Teamster.org
Florida’s Ethics Commission has found that the ethics complaint filed by the Teamsters Union is “legally sufficient” and will result in an investigation into Gov. Rick Scott’s plan to privatize the state’s prisons.

The Teamsters Union filed the complaint Sept. 12, raising major concerns about Scott and the Republican Party accepting nearly $1 million in inaugural contributions from two companies that have advocated for the governor to privatize the state’s prison system and are seeking contracts.

“The governor’s privatization scheme smacks of political payback, pure and simple,” said Ken Wood, Teamsters International Vice President and President of Teamsters Local 79 in Tampa. “I applaud the Ethics Commission for moving forward with an investigation. As a result, the bid process now under way for management contracts is tainted and should be stopped immediately. Privatizing Florida’s prisons won’t save the state money. It will result in poor management and it will damage communities.”

Florida Department of Corrections (FDOC) officers have come out in support of the Teamsters’ complaint and in overwhelming opposition to the governor’s attempts to railroad through his privatization scheme. And, FDOC employees have rallied with the Teamsters in the hopes that the union can become their bargaining agent.

The Teamsters are assisting 20,000 FDOC officers seeking aggressive representation on the job. For more information, visit http://fdocteamsters.org

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Larry Hathaway and Pat Swanson
Posted: September 27, 2011
Source: JC 28
The Joint Council was notified that Larry Hathaway, former Business Representative of Teamsters Local Union No. 741 passed away this past weekend and Pat Swanson, former Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local Union No. 313 passed away yesterday. We will publish more information on the "Broken Wheel" page once we receive it.

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Local 839 Sec-Treas. Bob Hawks and Family Members
Injured in Propane Blast
Posted: September 27, 2011
Source: JC 28
Bob HawksBob Hawks, his wife Shelly and daughter Stephanie were involved with a propane explosion at their Cabin near Clarkston/Lewiston.  Bob suffered burns to his hands and arms.  Shelly suffered burns to her legs and feet.  Their daughter Stephanie suffered from burns all over her body.  They were having a get together to celebrate Shelly’s 50th birthday.

If you would like to brighten their day, you can send emails, cards etc. 

Cards can be sent to:

Harborview Burn Center
Attn: Robert, Shelly & Stephanie Hawks
8th Floor
325 Ninth Ave.
Seattle, WA 98104

General Information: 206.744.3300

Listed below is the link that you can send an email.  Volunteers read the e-mails to the patients. 

http://uwmedicine.washington.edu/Patient-Care/Locations/HMC/Patient-Family-Resources/Pages/Gifts-and-E-Mails.aspx

This disclaimer is listed below the information box for sending emails:

Do not send urgent or confidential information. All messages are read and printed by volunteers. Also, out of respect for patient confidentiality, we cannot confirm delivery. Messages deemed inappropriate, such as business solicitations, will be discarded.

It might not be a bad idea to send your support to our friends at Local 839.  As they update us, we will keep you updated.  Let’s send our love and thoughts to the Hawks family for a speedy recovery!!!!

If there are further things we can do to assist the Hawks family, I will let you know as soon as I hear. 

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Initiative I-1125 would choke off transportation projects
Posted: September 23, 2011
Source: The Olympian
Tim Eyman is back before voters with yet another transportation initiative, this one focused on tolls. Under Eyman's Initiative 1125, lawmakers would set toll fees, use those tolls only for that project and the tolls would end when the bonds for the project are paid off. While the measure sounds reasonable, the devil is in the details. Astute voters will study more than just the ballot title for I-1125 and come to the same conclusion as The Olympian's editorial board and vote against Eyman's initiative. Read more: http://www.theolympian.com/2011/09/16/1802385/initiative-would-choke-off-transportation.html#storylink=misearch#ixzz1YodRKOci

Our biggest concern with I-1125 is the provision that requires the state Legislature to set toll rates. While that sounds appropriate, state Treasurer Jim McIntire says no other state in the union vests the Legislature with toll-setting authority for good reason.

Bonding companies prefer an independent toll authority with predictability. Bonding companies would be reluctant to finance projects where funding is set by the whims of the Legislature.

McIntire says that bonding companies would simply refuse to issue bonds for toll projects backed by toll revenue. He says the mandate to have lawmakers set toll fees is a "killer" because it would threaten the construction of the 520 bridge in Seattle, Highway 509 between Seattle and Tacoma, Highway 167 in Pierce County and every other project where tolls are anticipated. Without bonds, backed by independently set toll commissions, Washington's projects would be jeopardized. It would likely lead to higher gasoline taxes.

McIntire puts it succinctly when he says, "We simply cannot sell toll-backed bonds if the Legislature is the toll-setting authority." That's a recipe for gridlock and that fact alone should persuade voters to cast ballots against I-1125.

A reliable transportation system with much-needed road and bridge improvements, is key to a growing Washington economy. A failing transportation infrastructure would cripple this state – from the ability of farmers in Eastern Washington to get their products to the Port of Seattle to the ability of commuters along the Interstate 5 corridor to get to and from work.

We prefer today's existing toll-setting system where the independent, state Transportation Commission sets the rates after relying on recommendations forwarded by a local citizens advisory committee.

In the case of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, the nine-member advisory committee is composed of permanent residents living in the vicinity of the bridge. They meet and hold public hearings every time a toll increase is proposed. These are neighbors and fellow bridge users working together to set reasonable rates. The decisions are made locally, and are not subject to political gamesmanship under the Capitol dome.

There are other reasons to vote against Eyman's measure.

For example, I-1125 overrules the will of the electorate when it comes to extending light rail on Interstate 90. The initiative says: "State government, the department of transportation, and other agencies may not transfer or use gas-tax-funded or toll-funded lanes on state highways for non-highway purposes."

The initiative would prevent Sound Transit, the regional light rail system, from replacing the center lanes on I-90 with light rail. Voters in Sound Transit's district boundaries have already approved light rail across the I-90 bridge, so Eyman's initiative would overrule that public vote.

Isn't he the one who is always crying when the Legislature overrules public votes on tax issues? Apparently it's OK for Eyman's initiative to torpedo a public vote, but sinister when lawmakers do the same thing in a budget emergency.
Read the complete source story here.

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Labor, business agree: 'No' on Eyman's I-1125
Posted: September 22, 2011
Download the "No on I-1125" FlyerSource: The Stand
The Washington State Labor Council and labor organizations across the state are joining with the business community to oppose Tim Eyman’s latest ballot measure, Initiative 1125, a dangerous and irresponsible initiative that would halt major transportation projects across the state.

As part of the Keep Washington Rolling coalition, the WSLC has begun explaining to union members why I-1125 would threaten major transportation projects across the state, increase gridlock, eliminate construction jobs, and stall our state’s economy at the worst possible time. The WSLC has prepared and posted on its website a flier for union members explaining the measure, and has offered to customize it for its affiliated unions.

Here are some of the frequently asked questions about I-1125, from the Keep Washington Polling website:

Who is really behind I-1125?
I-1125 is the latest scheme to halt transportation projects and cause gridlock from initiative kingpin Tim Eyman.  Eyman is primarily funded by a single wealthy donor, and paid nearly 1 million dollars to paid signature gatherers to get this latest “initiative of the people” on the ballot.

What does I-1125 really do?
Like with many of Eyman’s initiatives, the devil is in the details.  Masquerading as an initiative about tolls, I-1125 is really an attempt to halt or stall major transportation mobility projects around the state.  I-1125 seeks to ban the use of variable tolling and limit where and when tolls could be used.  I-1125 doesn’t prevent tolling, it merely hands the ability to toll over to the state legislature.  Currently, an independent, non-partisan commission of experts sets toll rates in the state.  No other state in the country allows politicians to set and control toll rates.  The idea of a legislator from Seattle setting toll rates in Eastern Washington or having a politician in Walla Walla determining important transportation policies in the Puget Sound area makes no sense.

What projects are at stake?

Among those in danger are the Evergreen Point floating bridge replacement across Lake Washington, Clark County’s Columbia River Crossing and Seattle’s Alaskan Way Viaduct.  And some already planned mobility projects, like the improvements slated for SR 167 and 509 may face a funding crisis if I-1125 is approved.  The threat doesn’t just stop there–it also means that hundreds of smaller projects, including many in rural areas, would be affected as well–creating a backlog of projects we can’t afford and miring our communities in gridlock.

Who opposes I-1125?

The health of our communities and the health of our economy relies on good transportation policy that keeps people moving.  I-1125 threatens to create gridlock around the state, damaging our quality of life and our economy.  That’s why experts in transportation planning across the state and a nearly unprecedented coalition of businesses, labor and community leaders have come together to oppose Initiative 1125 under the banner of Keep Washington Rolling.

How much will I-1125 cost?
I-1125 could cost taxpayers billions of dollars.  The State Treasurer cautions that the initiative would blow a $500 million hole in the financing for the 520 Evergreen Point floating bridge project alone—meaning the state would revert to using gas taxes to pay back those bonds.  And any future bonding would also be threatened, the Treasurer cautioned, explaining that no other state allows the legislature to set toll prices because independent bond houses often won’t bond–or bonds would cost an additional $18 million for every $100 million–when the financing is at the whim of politicians.

The Office of Financial Management also found that I-1125 would blow a hole in transportation funding in Washington, including sacrificing half or more of $123 million in federal grant funding that is currently slated to be spent in Washington on transportation projects and job creation.

How will I-1125 affect low-income families?
Proponents of I-1125 want you to believe that transportation policies that keep our roads moving, like variable tolling are bad for low income families.  The reality is that if I-1125 passes it will have a devastating effect on low income families because it will cost taxpayers more around the state.  Without the ability to bond major projects against tolling revenue, the state will be forced to turn to the gas-tax and other sources of revenue, meaning taxpayers around the state will pay more for projects that they may never use.  Tolls are fairer.  Tolls are a user fee — people only pay for what they use.  That’s fairer than raising taxes on everyone—or diverting limited resources— to fund critical projects.

Don’t fewer projects mean fewer jobs?
Yes.  By halting or stalling major projects, we will lose thousand of living wage construction jobs that many families rely on.  And it isn’t just construction jobs that we need to worry about–countless more jobs will disappear or never be created if businesses move away from our state or don’t invest here because they can’t move goods and employees around our region.

What do experts say?
Transportation planning experts around the state are lining up to oppose I-1125.  Every State Transportation Secretary for the past 17 years is opposed to I-1125.  And the State Treasurer recently noted just how dangerous I-1125 is, cautioning that politicizing our tolling system would make our system unstable and discourage investment in Washington.  The analysis found that the uncertainty created by allowing politicians to set toll rates will cost Washington State billions in bond financing for important projects while increasing financing costs for taxpayers by hundreds of millions.  Washington can’t afford to lose billions of dollars in funding right now or see our transportation bonds downgraded.

What would I-1125 mean for voter approved projects like light rail on I-90?
According to Eyman, if I-1125 passes it would kill the voter-approved plan to build light rail across Lake Washington on the I-90 floating bridge.  That alone would create gridlock and cost our economy hundreds of jobs and billions in lost wages, all while putting the future economic vitality of the region at risk.  We can’t afford I-1125.

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Taking Action On The American Jobs Act
Posted: September 19, 2011
Source: IBT
The Teamsters Union is pleased to see the common-sense approach to creating jobs that President Obama presented to the Congress last week. That plan was Introduced in Congress this week - the American Jobs Act. Now we need your help in making sure it passes.

There is no doubt by anyone that our country has been in a jobs crisis for far too long. Working families in every state have been feeling the brunt of it - from layoffs, to cuts In wages and benefits, to foreclosures on their homes. The middle class needs some solutions, and they need solutions now.

Let's be clear: The jobs crisis is an American problem. It isn't President Obama's problem, and it isn't a Republican or Democratic problem. The time is now for all Americans to come together to create good jobs for the middle class and get our economy back on track.

The American Jobs Act will do a number of things to make a difference in working families' lives right away, such as:

The President is ready to sign the American Jobs Act Into law, but this bill is not going to pass itself. Our Representatives and Senators in Congress need to hear from us and need to know that the American people can't wait any longer. Please contact your members of Congress and tell them to pass the American Jobs Act now! Please also ask your Joint Councilor Local Union members to do the same. The Teamsters Union has created a webpage with more Information on the American Jobs Act and how It will make a direct Impact in your state. Please check out www.teamsters.org/JobsBill and encourage your members to do the same. We can get this done, but we must work together.

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Final Step in YRCW Restructuring Approved
Posted September 18, 2011
Teamster.org
Today, YRCW held a special meeting of its shareholders to approve the final step in its restructuring. When the restructuring transaction closed on July 22, 2011, it required a merger of corporate entities in the fall to complete the restructuring. In the shareholder vote, 99 percent of all shares voted to approve the merger.  In concert with this approval, all preferred shares issued in connection with the restructuring transaction will convert to common equity. Teamster YRCW members receiving stock allocations to their 401(k) accounts set up in conjunction with the transaction should expect shares to be distributed to their accounts on or before September 30, 2011.  

To be clear, today’s developments do not affect the daily operations of YRCW but are a step forward in moving beyond the completed restructuring.
Read the source story here.

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Waste Management Teamsters Defeat Decertification Effort
Posted September 18, 2011
Teamster.org
By a 2-1 margin, workers at Waste Management in Broward County, Florida voted today to remain Teamsters.

The workers voted 151-77 to remain members of Local 769 in Miami. There are 244 workers in the bargaining unit.

“This is a victory for all Teamster waste workers,” said Bob Morales, Director of the Teamsters Solid Waste, Recycling and Related Industries Division. “Waste Management will try anything to deny our workers the rights they deserve, but our members remained united and defeated the company’s anti-worker, anti-union tactics. This is a resounding victory and should send Waste Management a message that it cannot trample on our members’ rights.”
Read the source story here.

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Republicans Push NLRB Attack Bill Through House
Posted September 16, 2011
Source: AFL-CIO Now Blog
House Republicans today continued their attack on the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) when they passed (238-186) a bill that would cripple the agency and allow employers to retaliate against workers who exercise their workplace rights. Under the bill, employers would even be able to legally eliminate workers’ jobs. The bill is not expected to be brought up for a Senate vote.

AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka says about the bill (H.R. 2587):

Instead of creating good jobs, Tea Party Republicans are wasting time and playing partisan politics. H.R. 2587 is an over-reaching, special interest bill that advances the interests of corporate donors while attacking working people, their rights and their jobs. It’s one more example of an anti-worker agenda that’s bad for America and bad for the middle class.
Republicans, tea party extremists and business groups have used a routine complaint the NLRB issued against the Boeing Co. in April as cover for their near hysterical and sweeping attacks on workers and the NLRB.
Read the source story here.

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U.S. Has Weakest Labor Protections Among Rich Nations
Posted: September 16, 2011
Source: AFL-CIO Now Blog
A new international comparison makes it clear just how weak  protections are for working people in the United States. University of Missouri-St. Louis associate professor Kenneth Thomas reviewed numbers from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and found that in 21 categories, U.S. workers are more vulnerable than workers in any [OECD] members (rich industrialized democracies) or even the so-called growing BRIC countries of Brazil, Russia, India and China…to being fired unfairly, to not getting severance pay, to getting the least notice on mass layoffs or being fired, to being stuck on a mouse wheel of temporary positions.

Thomas also compared the United States labor protections with those in Estonia, Indonesia and South Africa for good measure. The result, in every case, Thomas says on his blog Middle Class Political Economist, is that not only is the United States in last place, it isn’t even close.

Check out the numbers here.
Read the source story here.

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Teamsters Call on Sotheby's Board to Oust Murdoch
Posted: September 14, 2011
Source: Teamster.org
In a letter to Michael Sovern, Sotheby’s Independent Chairman of the Board and Chairman of the Board’s Nominating Committee, Teamsters General Secretary-Treasurer Tom Keegel urged that James Murdoch be asked to immediately step down as a director of the company.

The letter, sent on behalf of the Teamsters Affiliates Pension Plan, a shareholder of Sotheby’s [NYSE: BID], argues that recent developments in the phone-hacking scandal at News Corp [Nasdaq: NWSA] cast doubt over Murdoch’s ability to serve as an effective and credible director at Sotheby’s. Murdoch has become a central focus of numerous investigations, in the U.S. and abroad, examining the failures of judgment, oversight and accountability that allowed a five-year old hacking scandal to escalate into a full-blown corporate crisis.

The ongoing investigations include a UK judicial inquiry into the extent of unlawful or improper conduct at News International; an investigation by the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee into the entire scandal; ongoing police investigations in the UK and US; civil actions from alleged hacking victims; various shareholder legal actions; and an internal investigation by News Corp. 

Together these lengthy and high-profile probes raise concerns as to how Murdoch will be able to devote the necessary time and energy to the board and serve with the required integrity. Even should these investigations clear Murdoch of misconduct, his relationship with key stakeholders, including the public, regulators, the media, and sections of the investment community, will remain damaged.

It is also not clear if Murdoch brings unique qualities and expertise to the board that could not be found in equal or greater measure elsewhere. 

“He has arguably no experience providing critical, independent oversight, as his business experiences stem entirely from positions within News Corp, or affiliated entities. In essence, the family business,” Keegel said. 

Sotheby’s notorious price-fixing scandal a decade ago resulted in anti-trust convictions for former chairman Alfred Taubman and former CEO Diana Brooks and cost the company hundreds of millions of dollars in fines and settlement costs. These events demonstrated how highly sensitive Sotheby's stock is to reputational risks as Sotheby’s shares lost more than half their value in just the short period from Nov. 1999-Feb. 2000. Sotheby’s shareholders need to have confidence in the board’s ability to rigorously manage risk and oversee management.

"The board has a duty of loyalty to shareholders, not to Mr. Murdoch,” Keegel said. “And we believe that a pragmatic response to recent events dictates that James Murdoch should be asked to resign from the board."

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Teamsters File Complaint Against Governor Rick Scott
Posted: September 14, 2011
Source: Teamster.org
The Teamsters Union filed a complaint this week with the Florida Commission on Ethics against Florida Governor Rick Scott for trying to force the privatization process of South Florida prisons using a tainted bidding process. The complaint, filed by Teamsters International Vice President Ken Wood, outlined how two of the country’s largest prison privatization companies, Geo Group (GEO) and Corrections Corporation of America (CCA), have donated cash to Scott’s inauguration fund.

“The governor clearly has a conflict of interest with both CCA and GEO bidding to secure contracts for prison management,” Wood said. “The complaint cites that Governor Scott should have already put the Secretary of the Department of Correction on notice that GEO and CCA should not be permitted to bid on state contracts to run prisons.

“Using either GEO or CCA to manage prisons doesn’t make sense either financially or ethically for the state,” Wood said. “We are urging the ethics commission to take action in this matter and find that the governor violated his responsibilities to the people of the state of Florida.”

The Teamsters Union represents thousands of law enforcement officers in over 1,400 departments and agencies nationwide. The union is assisting 20,000 Florida Department of Corrections officers who are seeking aggressive union representation. For more information, please see the website http://fdocteamsters.org/.

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Teamsters Alert Sun Capital Investors: Firm Endangers Value, Workers, Communities
Posted: September 13, 2011
Source: Teamster.org
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters released its analysis of Sun Capital Partners to a global gathering of institutional investors this week in Paris. The report, titled “From Toxic Assets to Toxic Releases” will be distributed to investors attending conferences with the Committee on Workers Capital (CWC), the International Corporate Governance Network (ICGN) and the United Nations Principles of Responsible Investment.

The report, subtitled “How Sun Capital Partners’ Investment Strategies Destroy Economic Value, Undermine Worker Safety and Destabilize Communities,” reviews Sun Capital’s overall record, recently marred by a rising number of bankruptcies filings and distress among its portfolio companies.

The report highlights the painful human toll of aggressive slash-and-burn management, and provides an in-depth case study of Emerald Performance Materials, LLC, a chemicals company acquired by Sun Capital in 2006. In the report, C. Thomas Keegel, Teamsters General Secretary-Treasurer cautions, investors looking at Sun Capital Partners.

“Institutional investors should be wary of investing with Sun Capital Partners, due to the social and environmental risks highlighted in this report, and should closely review the overall financial risk-orientation of Sun Capital’s portfolio,” Keegel said. “In the case of Emerald Performance Materials there is cause for alarm due to terrible health and safety conditions of its workers and the broader community.”

Workplace safety and health issues are a major concern for the CWC. Trustees and pension fund professionals attending the CWC meeting spoke with a union representative from locked-out workers of the Emerald Performance Materials Henry, Ill. plant about the ongoing industrial safety crisis at the chemical manufacturer.

Greg Wheet, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 627 addressed the meeting, stating “Henry, IL Emerald workers have been locked out by the Company for nearly six months after rejecting unsustainable cuts in wages, benefits and unacceptable health and safety conditions. Since less-skilled workers have taken our place there have been nine accidental releases into the air reported to federal agencies, including carbon disulfide and hydrogen sulfide, which are extremely toxic. On September 2nd, there was a sodium hypoclorite spill into the ground. This has got to stop.”

The union is asking for a substantial improvement in health and safety conditions and better economic terms.

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Hoffa Calls On U.S. Dept. Of Commerce To Rescind Job-Killing Grant
Posted: September 13, 2011
Source: Teamster.org
Teamsters General President Hoffa called on Dr. Rebecca Blank, Acting Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce to rescind a $2 million grant to Visalia, Calif. that is being used to destroy good jobs in the State of California rather than create them, in a letter last week.

“American taxpayers should not foot the bill for rich private equity firms like Chicago-based Madison Dearborn Partners to move jobs from one California labor market to another, devastating the families of longtime workers and decimating the local community that has supported the business for more than 50 years,” said James P. Hoffa, Teamsters General President.

VWR International, a global laboratory supply company, plans to close its Brisbane, Calif. Regional Distribution Center in 2012 and relocate the work over 200 miles away to Visalia, Calif. VWR has even gone so far as to deny its long-time Brisbane employees the right to follow their jobs.

The Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA) made a $2 million grant to Visalia in April 2011. The grant includes a promise of creating 237 jobs.

Though the City of Visalia’s internal documents and statements to the media include VWR as a beneficiary of the grant, the application to the U.S. Department of Commerce does not.

By conspicuously failing to include the controversial VWR project as a beneficiary of the grant, the city has deceived American taxpayers and may be failing to obtain assurances of compliance with civil rights and other legal requirements obtained from the other listed beneficiaries, Hoffa’s letter noted.

U.S. Congresswoman Jackie Speier and California State Treasurer Bill Lockyer co-chaired the “Federal-State Inquiry into Job Losses and Misdirected Tax Policy” on May 9, 2011 and heard testimony from labor market experts and Brisbane officials (Report: Highway Robbery—The road from Brisbane to Visalia: How VWR International is using taxpayer funds to destroy jobs, the environment, and communities, is available). The University of California Berkeley Center for Labor Research and Education concluded that the closing will result in the loss of 331 jobs, including 183 direct jobs, 42 indirect jobs, 41 induced jobs and 65 jobs in the adjoining county.

According to the Brisbane City Manager, the closure will devastate the local economy as the company accounts for 18.5 percent of the city’s general fund and 50 percent of the city’s sales tax revenue. VWR’s tax revenue alone is equivalent to 67 percent of Brisbane’s annual police budget or 88 percent of its fire department budget according to the city manager.

“VWR and its private equity owners refuse to meet with city officials or the union to discuss viable alternatives that will keep operations local. The company won’t even allow current employees to follow their work,” said Rome Aloise, President of Teamsters Joint Council 7 and Principal Officer of Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 853. Local 853 has represented VWR workers for more than 50 years.

“Madison Dearborn’s decision to walk out on Brisbane and the long-term workers who built this company is a slap in the face,” Aloise said. “But to know that taxpayer money is being used to help the company do it is unforgivable.”

“We do not believe that Congress intended for EDA funds to be used in this manner,” Hoffa said. “If we are serious about creating jobs in this country, we need to stop financing job piracy and hold employers accountable.”

The letter and research report are available upon request.

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Jay Inslee Town HallTeamster Town Hall with Jay Inslee on Sunday, Sept. 18th
Posted: September 12, 2011
Source: JC28
What do you want to ask Jay Inslee, candidate for WA Governor? Jobs? Pensions? Workplace Safety? Health Care Costs? 

Click here to submit your question for Jay Inslee before Thursday. You can also email your question to tat@jc28.org. 

Then listen LIVE as Jay Inslee answers your question in front of a live Teamster audience at the Wenatchee Convention Center this Sunday. The number for the live feed is (877) 216-1555. To get your access passcode, please call us at 206-441-6060.

LISTEN LIVE SUNDAY, September 18th, at 10:30am.

Not all questions will be asked due to time limits.

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Teamsters President James Hoffa defends jobs speech while in Seattle
Posted: September 10, 2011
Source: My Northwest.com
"Everybody here's gotta vote. If we go back and keep the eye on the prize...Let's take these SOBs out and give America back to America," Teamsters President James Hoffa said in a speech on Monday.

Hoffa told 97.3 KIRO FM's Ross and Burbank Show on Friday he does not regret what he said in Detriot.

"Since I've made that comment, my phone has been ringing off the hook. Everybody is saying keep it on, we need more of that. Even the airline pilot the other day when I flew out said 'Keep it up, you're doing a great job.' We need more of that. We need people talking about the issues."

Hoffa was in Puyallup Friday to help grocery warehouse workers at the Fred Meyer Distribution Center get a new contract.

"We are going to win this battle," he said to a crowd of around 200 cheering Teamsters and Fred Meyer employees. "We've got people paying $12,000 out of pocket on their healthcare. It stinks! It stinks!"
Read the source story here.

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Auction House Opens Its Fall Season With Chinese Art, Teamster Protests
Posted: September 9, 2011
Source: Teamster.org
Teamster members and supporters protested outside Sotheby's Manhattan showroom today as the company (NYSE: BID) opened its fall auction season with its annual media preview of Chinese paintings and ceramics to be auctioned next week.

The protesters held banners and signs that read, “Sotheby’s: Bad for Art” and “Abuse”, “Mistreat” and “Disgrace” in Chinese.

Teamsters and supporters were protesting Sotheby’s decision to lock out its longtime, professional art handlers and bring in temporary replacement workers. The locked-out art handlers have been on the street since July 31 with no paychecks.

“Replacing experienced professionals with outsourced workers is a bad way to handle New York’s and China’s fine art. Buyers and sellers of Chinese art need to know that the experienced and dedicated art handlers who usually protect their priceless works of art will not be handling that art at auction next week,” said Jason Ide, President of Teamsters Local 814, which represents the 43 locked-out workers.

“Sotheby’s hired Jackson Lewis, America’s most notorious union-hostile law firm, to sabotage our contract talks. Jackson Lewis specializes in helping New York employers destroy permanent, professional jobs by bringing in a temporary workforce with high turnover. New York can’t afford to lose more good, middle-class jobs,” said George Miranda, Teamsters International Vice President and President of Teamsters Joint Council 16 in New York.

Sotheby’s locked out the workers during contract negotiations. The lockout comes after the most profitable year in the company’s history. In the 2nd quarter of 2011, Sotheby’s reported revenue of $353 million, up 31 percent from 2010. Sotheby's CEO Bill Ruprecht’s salary almost doubled in 2010 to $6 million.

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Teamsters Pitch in to Bring Hay to Oklahoma Family Farmers
Posted: September 9, 2011
Source: Teamster.org
Teamster members from across the Midwest came together today to help out drought-stricken farms in Oklahoma by hauling in fresh hay for cattle. Teamster drivers with tractor trailers from Ohio, Indiana and Missouri picked up hay in Wisconsin and hauled it to a location just outside of Oklahoma City where farmers and ranchers could pick up the much-needed food for their cattle and livestock.

The Teamsters participation is in partnership with Farm Aid , Wisconsin-based Family Farm Defenders and the Oklahoma Black Historical Research Project, which is coordinating hay distribution to farmers in need. The effort came about last month at the annual Farm Aid concert in Kansas City, where Oklahoma farmers asked for help and told of farmers and ranchers who have been so badly affected by drought that they have nothing to feed their livestock. Since this year has been especially dry in Oklahoma, grazing is impossible, farmers’ crops were lost and many herds of cattle are near starvation level. Wisconsin farmers, in immediate solidarity, offered to donate hay, and Farm Aid offered to find a way to get that hay to Oklahoma. Click here for more photos.

“Teamsters have always been ready and willing to help those in need,” said Jim Hoffa, Teamsters General President.  “When Farm Aid asked us for help last month, we immediately went into action to round up the appropriate trucks to haul the hay to the dry fields in Oklahoma.”

For this hay lift, the Teamsters were a natural fit. The Teamsters have a long relationship with Farm Aid , including helping out with previous hay lifts and volunteering as drivers each year at the Farm Aid concerts. 

Approximately 10 tons of hay were hauled by the Teamster members to help out the farmers of Oklahoma. Teamsters Local Union 135 in Indianapolis, Ind., the Ohio Conference of Teamsters and Kansas City’s Joint Council 56 all donated their time and tractors to the effort.

The Teamsters Union has responded to past national crises with similar vigor. Five years ago when Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana and other states, Teamster members from around the country contributed funds and offered time to help families rebuild their homes. Even now, as the 10th anniversary of 9/11 grows near, Teamster members are instrumental in the construction of the new buildings at the World Trade Center in New York City.  More than 1,200 construction and delivery personnel work daily on the center’s rebuilding project – all of them Teamster members.

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Teamsters Sue To Block U.S. DOT From Opening Border To Unsafe Mexican Trucks
Posted: September 9, 2011
Source: Teamster.org
The Teamsters have filed suit to block the U.S. Department of Transportation from opening the U.S. border to Mexican trucks through an illegal pilot program.

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters and Public Citizen challenged the program in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco. The suit, filed last week, claims the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration breaks the following laws:

“The last thing America needs right now is a guest-worker program on wheels,” said Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa. “We created zero jobs last month. Why would the Transportation Department threaten American warehouse and trucking jobs, while undermining highway safety? How can they even consider opening the border when drug violence is out of control in Mexico? DOT is sadly mistaken if it thinks this program is in America’s best interest.”
Read the complete source story here.

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NMB Releases RLBC Rail Unions From Mandatory Mediation in National Freight Rail Negotiations
Posted: September 8, 2011
Source: Teamster.org
Today, the National Mediation Board released the six national rail labor organizations, comprising the Rail Labor Bargaining Coalition (RLBC), from further mediation in their dispute over changes in national labor agreements covering employees of some 28 Class I freight railroads represented in bargaining by the National Carriers’ Conference Committee (NCCC). 

Those railroads carry more than 90 percent of all rail freight in the United States. The RLBC-represented organizations are the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen (IBT), Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes (IBT), Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen, AFL-CIO, International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, AFL-CIO, National Conference of Firemen & Oilers (SEIU), AFL-CIO and the Sheet Metal International Association, AFL-CIO.

Also released from mediation were five other national rail labor organizations, which have bargained together as another coalition with the NCCC in this round of national negotiations.  Nearly all Class I railroads and approximately 75 percent of their employees are represented by the two coalitions in multi-union, multi-employer bargaining. The Coalitions’ dispute with the railroads centers on the NCCC’s insistence that an agreement it had reached with the only organization to bargain alone, the United Transportation Union, should form the basis of agreements with the eleven organizations represented by the two Coalitions.  Both Coalitions recognized that the Carriers’ insistence on the wage package and healthcare modifications, among other benefit provisions, agreed to by the NCCC and UTU foreclosed any chance of agreement with the rest of rail labor.  The Mediation Board acted after it became apparent that the deadlock could not be broken.

The Board’s action advances this national rail labor dispute into the final stages of dispute resolution under the Railway Labor Act.  Unless the parties voluntarily settle their dispute in the thirty-day cooling-off period that begins today, or a Presidential Emergency Board is established by President Obama, the parties will be free to resort to nonviolent self-help in support of their respective bargaining positions commencing at 12:01 a.m. EDT on October 7, 2011. 

RLBC Chairman, W. Dan Pickett, said: “We welcome the Board’s overdue action.  The NCCC’s insistence that the UTU agreement – whose wage and benefit provisions are unacceptable to every other rail labor organization –forms a pattern for all employees in the industry is designed to frustrate multi-union, multi-employer bargaining.  At best, the Carriers’ position imposes the UTU’s unique interests on the rest of rail labor; at worst, it seeks to restore a bygone era in which a strong, unified industry bargained separately with individual unions to the detriment of employee interests.  This is not something that can or will be tolerated.”     
Read the complete source story here

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Hoffa: Corporate-Funded Conservative Politicians Out To Destroy Middle Class
Posted: September 7, 2011
Source: Teamster.org
Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa today said he stands by his criticism of corporate-funded conservative politicians who are out to destroy the middle class.

“We didn’t start this war – the right wing did. My comments on Labor Day in Detroit echo the anger and frustration of American workers who are under attack by corporate-funded politicians who want to destroy the middle class,” Hoffa said. “We’re tired of seeing good-paying jobs shipped overseas. This fight is about the economy, it’s about jobs and it’s about rebuilding America. As I said yesterday in Detroit, we all have to vote in order to take these anti-worker politicians out of office.”

Hoffa said the battle began when anti-worker politicians, funded by billionaires and CEOs such as the Koch brothers, were elected last fall. Instead of focusing on voter priorities such as restoring the U.S. economy and job creation, the first act of these newly elected politicians was an attempt to gut the middle class. They launched a coordinated, well-financed war on workers in states such as Wisconsin and Ohio, where they stripped workers’ collective bargaining rights. They also filed right-to-work-for-less legislation in 14 states, which workers successfully fought and defeated.

“We’re fighting back. That’s what Teamsters do – we stand up for what is right,” Hoffa said. “I will never apologize for standing up for my fellow Teamsters and all American workers.”
Read the source story here.

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Teamsters Sue Over Mexican-Truck Plan
Posted: September 5, 2011
Source: Teamster.org
The Teamsters union filed a lawsuit against the Obama administration on Friday seeking to block the government's plan to allow Mexican trucks back into the U.S., in a sign of the growing rift between unions and the administration over trade.

The suit challenges a deal the U.S. signed with Mexico in July to resolve a longstanding dispute over cross-border trucking. The agreement ended a two-decade-long ban on Mexican trucks entering the U.S.

The North American Free Trade Agreement, signed in 1994, called for allowing Mexican truckers into the U.S., but the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and Democratic allies in Congress repeatedly used legislation to block access. Nafta ruled in the late 1990s that Mexico could impose punitive tariffs, which it did in 2009, affecting $2.4 billion in U.S. goods annually.

Earlier this year, President Barack Obama and Mexican President Felipe Calderon jointly unveiled their plan to resolve the dispute, including a reciprocal pilot program that would allow Mexican trucks into the U.S. under certain rules.

The suit was filed Friday in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in San Francisco by the Teamsters and the nonprofit group Public Citizen against the Department of Transportation and its Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The complaint alleges that the pilot program sets standards that aren't stringent enough for Mexican trucks and drivers. For example, the program waives a law requiring trucks to display proof of meeting federal safety standards, said Jonathan Weissglass, a lawyer for the plaintiffs.

An official for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration said the Teamsters haven't directly served the agency with a lawsuit. Once they do, the agency "will review and address the filing," she said, adding that the pilot program will begin within 30 to 60 days. The official declined to address the substance of the suit.

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Join Teamsters General President Hoffa in Support of Fred Meyer TeamstersHoffa Coming Sept. 9th To Support Fred Meyer Teamsters
Posted: September 1, 2011
Join Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa, International Vice Presidents, community members, and elected leaders for a march and rally in support of Teamsters at Fred Meyer. Hundreds will rally at the Fred Meyer Distribution Center in Puyallup to demand a fair contract for Teamster grocery workers at Fred Meyer.
WHEN: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2011
TIME: 2:00 P.M.
WHERE: PUYALLUP RECREATION CENTER, 808 VALLEY AVE NW, PUYALLUP

Download the flyer here.

General President James P. Hoffa is aso scheduled to appear on CNN's "State of the Union with Candy Crowley" Sunday morning (9/4/11) between 9:00am-10:00am (ET) to urge Immediate action to address the nation's jobs crisis. We'll run the video on "Teamster TV" once it becomes available.

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