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PEOPLE’S BAILOUT AT KEYBANK
(December 23, 2008, Washington, D.C., IBT News) Members of Jobs with Justice and the Teamsters Union demonstrated across the country at KeyBank branches in Portland, Seattle, Indianapolis, Detroit, Buffalo and Cleveland to call for a "People's Bailout" and an end to the misuse of taxpayer bailout dollars to fund companies, like Oak Harbor, that have perpetrated workers' rights violations. KeyBank is set to receive $2.5 billion from the Troubled Asset Recovery Program (TARP). But instead of using the money to give relief to those hardest hit in the current economy, KeyBank is using its bailout money to increase profits by buying other banks and underwriting Oak Harbor Freight Lines, a Company that has cancelled its retirees' health care and violated U.S. and international labor standards affecting hundreds of striking Teamsters in Washington, Oregon and Idaho. "KeyBank's irresponsible decisions are putting working families in a bind," said Debbie Kline, Coordinator of Cleveland Jobs with Justice, where KeyBank is headquartered. "At this moment of crisis, KeyBank needs to extend relief to working Americans — not finance a rogue Company like Oak Harbor that has broken U.S. labor laws and violated international labor standards during a three-month strike in the Northwest." "Six hundred freight drivers and clerical workers in Washington, Oregon and Idaho are out in the cold this Holiday Season," said Al Hobart, Western Regional Vice President of the Teamsters. "Major retailers like the GAP and JC Penney have left Oak Harbor, but KeyBank continues to underwrite them and these labor violations. This is a national scandal that KeyBank is misusing its bailout money and Congress should do something about it."
TEAMSTERS DECRY KEYBANK BEHAVIOR
(December 19, 2008) The Teamsters Union’s strategy is evolving in the Oak Harbor Freight Lines Unfair Labor Practice Strike, which has been going on since September 22. The IBT is now stressing, besides picketline efforts, other ways of communicating to the public about Oak Harbor’s vicious anti-worker, anti-union policies. One of the latest targets of informational materials and speeches from the Teamsters is KeyBank. A big protest was conducted in Seattle, Washington, at Key Arena on Saturday, December 13. OHFL workers and friends told the public about KeyBank’s support of the Freight Company. Leafletting continues throughout the Seattle area, criticizing KeyBank for supporting the big Freight Company’s unfair treatment of its employees and retirees. The following press release by the IBT News Service discussed this situation in depth a few days ago.
IBT: KEYBANK ETHICALLY BANKRUPT
(December 15, 2008, Washington, D.C.) The Teamsters Union launched a nationwide radio ad on Air America December 12 condemning KeyBank (NYSE: KEY) for betraying taxpayers and for financing Oak Harbor Freight Lines’ labor abuses. Oak Harbor workers in Oregon, Washington and Idaho were forced to strike September 22 to protest the Freight Company’s violations of U.S. labor laws, as well as hostile efforts by Company representatives to intimidate workers. A day later, Oak Harbor took the extraordinary step of cutting off health benefits to its workers and retirees. CASE AGAINST KEYBANKCleveland-based KeyBank, which is set to receive $2.5 billion from the Troubled Asset Recovery Program (TARP), is on the board of several mortgage industry associations that lobbied to stop a Senate Bill that would have prevented well over half a million home foreclosures. KeyBank also serves as the principle financial institution for Oak Harbor Freight Lines. KEYBANK IS IRRESPONSIBLE “KeyBank’s irresponsible decisions are putting working families in a bind,” said Margaret Butler, the Director of Portland Jobs with Justice, who led a protest at KeyBank's main branch in Portland last week as part of Jobs with Justice's “People's Bailout” National Week of Action. “At this moment of crisis, KeyBank needs to extend relief to working Americans instead of financing a rogue Company like Oak Harbor that has broken U.S. labor law and violated international labor standards during a 3-month strike in the Northwest.” MOMENTUM GROWING AGAINST KEYBANK “Momentum is growing against KeyBank’s support of Oak Harbor,” said Al Hobart, President of Teamsters Joint Council 28 and International Vice President. “We are going to continue to take our message to the public and inform them of the anguish Keybank is causing American workers and families.” ACCESSING THE RADIO AD VIA THE INTERNET The Teamsters’ radio ad is running on the national radio network Air America, and is expected to reach at least 1.6 million listeners. Air America is also available online at www.airamerica.com. To listen to the radio ad, follow this link: http://www.teamster.org/popupContent.aspx?id=26436
OHFL UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE STRIKE
MESSAGE FROM DIANA McDOWELL Regarding the firewood situation, here is what she had to say a couple of days ago in an e-mail from her to the Labor Community:
Oak Harbor is a Trucking Firm headquartered in Auburn, Washington, and is one of the largest regional freight carriers in the Northwest. The report (http://www.laborrights.org/labor-rights/1863) found that:
In response to the workers’ strike, now in its 12th week, the Company unilaterally stopped paying for health care benefits for current workers and retirees. Other retailers, after learning of the workers’ rights violations, also fired Oak Harbor. The retailers include REI, Urban Outfitters and Gap.
DHL CHANGE PLAN ACCEPTED
(December 10, 2008) Local 174 Senior Business Agent Tim Allen attended an emergency meeting of the National DHL Change of Operations Committee that took place during the first week of December. Representatives from Locals signatory to the DHL National Agreement met in Sarasota, Florida to discuss the Company’s planned Change of Operations. As a result of the now approved change, DHL’s U.S. operations will be reduced by almost 95% — cutting the number of employees working under the National Agreement from approximately 5,800 to around 450. During the hearings, each affected Local was given the opportunity to testify before the Committee raising issues of local concern. One after another, each Local Representative including 174’s Allen expressed their profound disappointment with DHL for the course of action the Company has chosen to take. For many of the Locals, station consolidation will mean the total loss of DHL membership as their few remaining DHL members are moved to stations located in another Local Union’s jurisdiction. ALLEN TESTIMONY ON BEHALF OF LOCAL 174 He also asserted Local 174’s claim to any future line runs that may be developed as part of the reduction of aircraft servicing the Northwest Region. Tim was informed that discussions of possible future in-sourcing of current IC locations will take place in early 2009. Employees with at least one year of service will be entitled to two weeks pay (80 hours) for every year of service up to a maximum payment of 11 weeks. DHL legacy employees will, for severance purposes, be credited with their DHL years of service rather than their seniority date. Payments will be made either by direct deposit or check sent to your home and commence approximately two weeks after payroll receives the signed severance agreement. All regular deductions will be taken out and Health & Welfare and Pension benefits will be paid during the continuation of salary period; however, no additional benefits will accrue. Earned vacation (already on the books) may be utilized prior to the severance payments commencing. Accrued vacation will be prorated using the employee’s layoff date and their seniority date and paid out along with any sick leave at and unused floaters at the conclusion of the salary continuation. Members who sign the Severance Agreement will be severing their employment with DHL and thus waiving their recall rights under the National Agreement. Employees currently off on Worker’s Compensation should consult with their Workers Comp Attorney to determine what impact, if any, signing the Agreement will have on their Comp claim. The Washington State Unemployment Office has already ruled that employees can receive both weekly unemployment payments and the continuation of salary payments provided for under the Severance Agreement. DISCUSSION MEETING DECEMBER 20Severance agreements will be provided to those employees laid off each week at their station. For those already laid off, you can pick up and sign the form at your old station or we will have them at the Local Union Office. A meeting has been set for Saturday, December 20th at 10 a.m. at the Teamster Building in Tukwila in the Main Meeting Hall to discuss the severance package and for members to receive information concerning services and programs available for displaced workers. This is the same program presented at the various stations last week and is intended primarily for those already laid off. So those who received the information last week can come at 11 a.m. for the severance discussion or if you have additional questions you are welcome to the Rapid Response Team presentation at 10 a.m. As always, if you have any questions, contact Tim at the Local.
OHFL RALLY HELD IN PORTLAND
(December 8, 2008) As the Holiday Season continues, the Oak Harbor Freight Lines picketers in Auburn, Washington are still on the line in their Unfair Labor Practice Strike. The weather is cold, they need more firewood, and they are increasingly angry at their Company. But they are steadfast and their picketline remains strong. They, and fellow striking OHFL workers at other sites in Washington State, and in Oregon and Idaho, are noticing a promising development. The word is getting out more and more to the general public about Oak Harbor’s outrageous behavior due to events such as the December 4, 2008 rally in Portland. The negotiations of the Teamsters with the Oak Harbor Freight Lines Company have dragged on for over a year. The Contract expired on October 31, 2007. About 600 members are in the multi-state, multi-Local Union bargaining unit. Signatory to the OHFL Agreement are Locals 81, 174, 231, 252, 324, 483, 589, 690, 760, 763, 839 and 962; Alaska/Washington/Northern Idaho JC-28 and Oregon JC-37. Local 174 and Local 763 are the Locals doing nearly all of the picketing in Auburn, which is the Oak Harbor Freight Lines Company’s headquarters city. They are, though, getting quite a bit of volunteer help from other Teamsters and Labor friends. Local 174 has approximately 200 OHFL members, and Local 763 has approximately 70. Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks and International Vice President/JC-28 President Al Hobart spoke at the December 4 Portland rally. Read more about it below.
1. IBT NEWS RELEASE (December 5, 2008, Portland, Oregon) Dozens of striking Oak Harbor employees, who are members of the Teamsters Union, held a rally yesterday on the strike line at Portland's Oak Harbor Freight terminal. Over 600 Teamster workers have been forced out on strike at Oak Harbor Freight for the past 11 weeks and recently the Company cut off health care benefits from retirees. “We believe our retirees have upheld their part of the bargain, and now the Company is abandoning them,” said Bob Andersen, a 14-year driver at the Portland terminal. “The retirees are the people who built Oak Harbor Freight. It seems as if the Company is done with them now and wants to get rid of them.”
“This is the 73rd day of the strike,” said Rick Hicks, Principal Officer of Teamsters Local Union 174. “Our strike has been about the many unfair labor practices that Oak Harbor has thrown at our members. And, now the Company is severely hurting our retirees — the very workers who built the Company into a successful corporation. We can't allow the Company to get away with ignoring the National Labor Relations Act.” Previously, workers at Oak Harbor Freight were guaranteed a continuation of their health care coverage once they retired from the Company. But, Oak Harbor has abruptly ceased payments for retiree health care, causing retirees and their families to pay triple the fees they were paying beforehand. “What the Company has done to us is making it difficult to eat,” said Marv Deegan, a former driver with Oak Harbor Freight in Portland. "When you are on a fixed income and you have to pay a huge amount just to keep your health care, there is hardly enough money left for food.” “Our members are steadfast in their support of the retirees that came before them at Oak Harbor,” said Al Hobart, Teamsters International Vice President. “And it was terrific to have support from labor leaders in the Portland community. When Labor comes together it shows the strength we have.” Also participating in the solidarity rally were representatives from the Portland area branch of Jobs with Justice; Father Bob Krueger, a member of the Workers Rights Board of Portland; and Rudy Martinez, Vice President of Carpenters Local 2154, also in Portland.
2. FROM WILLAMETTE WEEK
(December 4, 2008, by Katie Gilbert) Now in their 73rd day of striking, workers and retirees of Oak Harbor Freight Lines rallied today to protest what they call the “unfair labor practices” of their Auburn, Washington-based employer. The crowd of roughly 100 people outside Oak Harbor's Portland terminal late this afternoon included Teamsters Union leaders and employees either negotiating with Oak Harbor or directly affected by that negotiation's outcome. Also there were other groups, like the Columbia Pacific Building Trades Council and Jobs with Justice. “History is full of stories like yours — of people suffering, digging in the dirt to beat bastards like these guys," said Al Hobart, head of negotiations for Teamsters. "We're gonna win this thing.” After the last speaker had addressed the rally from the bed of a turquoise pick-up truck holding a makeshift PA system, I stood around a glowing barrel fire with a few of the picketing Oak Harbor workers and retirees. They explained what's keeping them out in the frosty late autumn wind. Ron Fuller, an Oak Harbor employee who's been at the Portland terminal picket site every day since Day One of the strike on September 22, says all he's asking for is a contract that looks like the one that expired October 31, 2007. But he says Oak Harbor wants to replace the contract that expired last year with one that would do away with sick leave, nix the concept of seniority and move Union employees from the Teamsters health plan to the Company's own, which doesn't provide benefits for retirees. That revision puts quite a strain on retirees like Marvin Deegan, 64. Deegan retired from Oak Harbor three years ago. Now that he's picking up his own health insurance tab, the bill has more than tripled, from $300 per month to $940. He's had to get a part-time job pumping gas to cover the leap. Striking employees and their supporters were heartened last week by the National Labor Relations Board decision to issue a formal complaint and take Oak Harbor to trial on at least four unfair labor practice charges. But they still don't expect a resolution any time soon. Oak Harbor spokesman Mike Hobby says that the Company is negotiating in good faith, but says “unfortunately, since the strike began, we've received nothing but more demands.” He says about 20 percent of Oak Harbor's clients have opted to use other transportation companies' services because of the strike (Teamsters, on the other hand, estimates the customer base has shrunk 65 percent). JCPenney is the latest Company to pull its business from Oak Harbor as a result of the strike. On to Day 74.
3. FROM THE SALEM NEWS (December 4, 2008, Portland, Oregon) Supporters of striking Teamsters at Oak Harbor Freight Lines will hold a rally today, Thursday, December 4th, on the strike line at the Oak Harbor Freight terminal in Portland. About 600 Teamsters in Oregon, Washington and Idaho have been on strike against the Company for 11 weeks, according to David White of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. "Now Oak Harbor has taken the outrageous step of cutting off health care to its retirees," he said. Faced with tripled health care costs, retired Oak Harbor workers are facing what White describes as "terrible financial hardships." Current striking Oak Harbor employees will join at the rally with retirees and community supporters to show solidarity. The Union has been negotiating with Oak Harbor since August 2007, White said. A number of Labor leaders will join the striking and retired Oak Harbor workers who say they are fighting to restore health care coverage for retirees. They include Mike Schoen, Recording Secretary of Local 81 in Portland; Rick Hicks, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 174 in Tukwila, Washington; Lynn Lehrbach, Business Agent with Joint Council 37 in Portland; Father Bob Krueger, Workers Rights Board of Portland; and Rudy Martinez, Vice President of Carpenters Local 2154 in Portland. T
4. MORE OHFL COMMENTS KOIN Local 6 is the CBS Television affiliate serving the Metropolitan Portland, Oregon area. For the newscasts of December 4, 2008, the day of the Oak Harbor Freight Lines rally in Portland, a KOIN reporter interviewed International Vice President/Joint Council 28 President Al Hobart and Teamsters Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks for further comments about the strike. To see and hear their remarks, follow this link: http://www.teamster.org/press-release.aspx?id=26376.
YRCW RELIEF PLAN ENDORSED
(December 5, 2008) Two days ago on Wednesday, December 3, leaders of IBT Freight Local Unions from across the country, including Local 174, overwhelmingly endorsed an Economic Relief Plan for the YRC Worldwide Inc. (YRCW) Companies that will protect tens of thousands of Teamster members’ jobs and their retirement security. Local 174 was represented by President Ted Bunstine and Business Agent Roger Pardo. A Local 174 discussion meeting will be held Sunday, December 7 at 10 a.m. at the Tukwila Teamster Building, in the Main Auditorium, for our affected members. The Economic Relief Plan will be explained, and questions will be answered at that time.TYSON JOHNSON: RESPONDING TO THE RECESSION “Today’s overwhelming support clearly shows that Local Union leaders from every area of this country know how bad this recession is, and they are confident that this agreement will protect the livelihoods of our members and their families,” said Tyson Johnson, Director of the Teamsters National Freight Division. “No one wants to see wages get cut, but this agreement will help get the Company through this deepening recession while protecting the jobs, health, welfare and pension benefits of our members.” “We are facing the worst economy in decades, so we need to act now to protect our members and their families,” said Jim Hoffa, Teamsters General President. “We worked hard to draft a plan that holds the Company accountable. The plan requires equal sacrifice among all YRCW employees, and we have the ability to obtain stock in the Company, and to place restrictions on where the savings can be used, among other protections for our members. I am confident that when our members read the plan details, they will agree that this is a necessary step during these very, very difficult times.” PLAN PARTICULARS Plan Protects Benefits Ballot Schedule Recessionary Battering As the largest Trucking Company in the country, YRCW has felt the General Freight Industry’s downturn most acutely, but lower volumes have been reported at virtually all National Carriers for some time. Continued setbacks in the housing and automotive-related sectors coupled with collapsing consumer demand suggest it will be late 2009 if not 2010 before positive tonnage numbers return. Challenges Ahead YRCW’s stock has dropped by 80 percent over the past year and, as a result, the banks have mandated virtually all of its assets now to be pledged on its current debt. This essentially means YRCW has no further opportunity to borrow money and could face the ultimate liquidity crisis next year. The Union believes it has only one opportunity in 2008 to help this Company recover its financial footing and position in the Trucking Industry. It is not only current Teamsters that could be impacted by a failure of one or more of YRCW’s Trucking Subsidiaries. Tens of thousands of retirees, both Medicare and non-Medicare eligible, could either lose their medical coverage if the Union were to delay action at this critical juncture. The implications for current and future pensioners would be just as dire, as the number of retired participants would swell enormously and shift untold burdens on other employers who can ill afford additional financial pressure in this economy. NOW IS THE TIME TO ACTThe team of professionals the Union has assembled to verify the Company’s prospects under various scenarios has concluded that any further financial distress on YRCW during the remaining years of the 2008-2013 NMFA would threaten the ultimate economic security of hundreds of thousands of Teamster members and retirees. “The time to act is now,” Johnson said. “The livelihoods of more than 40,000 Freight Teamsters and their families are at stake. In the coming days, we will be reaching out to our Freight members to answer questions and provide further information.” ILRF REPORT
(December 1, 2008) On Monday September 22, 2008, Teamster workers at one of the largest regional trucking companies on the West Coast — Oak Harbor Freight Lines — were forced to begin an Unfair Labor Practice Strike in protest of Oak Harbor's violations of America's labor laws. Rather than correcting these violations by negotiating with its employees in good faith, Oak Harbor's owners have hired a notorious strike breaking firm and imported teams of professional strikebreakers to coerce and scare loyal longtime employees. Oak Harbor workers have now been on strike for more than 8 weeks. Several faith-based, student and community organizations along with global union federations have called on Oak Harbor to end its war on workers, but Oak Harbor still refuses to work with its employees to find a just and lasting solution to the conflict. Until recently Oak Harbor has been huffing and puffing publicly, and few citizens tuned into the dispute from the workers’ standpoint. But now, the word is getting out, not just regionally, but all over the United States and the world via the Internet.
ILRF REPORTS NUMEROUS LABOR RIGHTS VIOLATIONS COMMITTED BY OAK HARBOR FREIGHT LINES
“The report found that Oak Harbor’s decision to permanently replace its employees was a tactic to interfere with a legitimate union’s attempt to bargain a new collective agreement. The panel of international labor rights experts and social justice leaders convened by ILRF found these actions to be a violation of the internationally recognized right to freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining (ILO Conventions 87 and 98). According to the panel, Oak Harbor had intentionally provoked a strike by proposing changes to employees’ wages, benefits and working conditions that would be unacceptable to the union and its members during collective bargaining. “Millions of workers around the world toil under inhumane working conditions. In a globalized economy, corporations from developed countries produce consumer goods ranging from coffee to cellphones in poor developing countries, where they can take advantage of cheap labor and lack of environmental or community protections. Workers, including child workers, must toil extremely long hours for wages that are barely subsistence wages, and often under unsanitary and unsafe conditions. In many countries there is little or no labor law enforcement, and many workers are prevented from joining organizations to advance their interests. “Alarmingly, an estimated 211 million children between the ages of 5 and 14 are compelled to work around the world. These children produce rubber, cotton, coffee and work in mines to produce goods that are traded to the United States and other developed countries. Unable to go to school, these children face little hope of escaping poverty in their future. “Advocacy for these workers is essential to ensuring their protection, strengthening their voice, and ending abuses that violate their rights and dignity. ILRF is an advocacy organization dedicated to achieving just and humane treatment for workers worldwide. ILRF serves a unique role among human rights organizations as advocates for and with working poor around the world. We believe that all workers have the right to a safe working environment where they are treated with dignity and respect, and where they can organize freely to defend and promote their rights and interests. We are committed to ending the problems of child labor, forced labor, and other abusive practices. “We promote enforcement of labor rights internationally through public education and mobilization, research, litigation, legislation, and collaboration with labor, government and business groups.” To read more about the International Labor Rights Forum itself, follow this link: http://www.laborrights.org/ The International Labor Rights Forum report found substantial evidence that Oak Harbor has violated workers' rights by pursuing a premeditated plan to permanently replace employees engaged in a lawful strike, by employing a labor contractor that has behaved in a grossly unethical manner toward replacement workers it has provided to Oak Harbor, discriminating based on race and gender in hiring and job assignment, and by inflicting significant hardship on retired employees through the termination of health insurance contributions. Oak Harbor Freight Lines workers in Oregon, Washington and Idaho were forced to strike in protest of Oak Harbor's violations of America's labor laws, as well as hostile efforts by company representatives to intimidate workers. Rather than correcting these violations by negotiating with its employees in good faith, Ed and David Vander Pol hired a notorious strike breaking firm and imported teams of professional strikebreakers to coerce and scare loyal long-time employees. Oak Harbor's owners can and should act from the moral imperative that people should be able to work in an atmosphere free of bullying, and that employee ideas for operating more effectively should be encouraged. Labor relations between employees and management can be a win/win proposition. We are all strengthened as a community when respect for employees is upheld as the priority. The IBT is fighting hard to ensure that all Oak Harbor employees get dignity, respect and fair pay for a job well done. Oak Harbor's owners should end their war on workers. MEETING DECEMBER 20 A MEETING FOR ALREADY LAID OFF DHL WORKERS IS SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER 20, 2008 AT JOINT COUNCIL 28 HEADQUARTERS IN TUKWILA DETAILS WILL BE FORTHCOMING SOON ABOUT ONGOING DEVELOPMENTS (November 28, 2008) DHL announced November 10, 2008 that effective immediately they will reduce service in the U.S. Market to the extent that by the end of January 2009, the Company will be servicing only International shipments. This news devastates an already emotionally battered work force who have seen their ranks shrink from 258 drivers in August, to currently 148 drivers. It is expected this most recent news will reduce the current workforce by about another 100 drivers. It is expected that by the end of January, the Seattle Cluster will be reduced to one station, something we haven’t seen since the mid-1980’s. Senior Business Agent Tim Allen has been in contact with the King County Labor Council’s Worker’s Center and the Rapid Response Team. The job market is tight throughout Washington State, which is why we are exploring some innovative ideas with the Worker’s Center. This agency, sponsored by the AFL-CIO, coordinates with several state agencies to assist displaced workers in the greater Seattle area. These agencies include the Washington State Employment Security Department, King County Community and Technical Colleges, WorkSource-Seattle-King County, and the King County Reemployment Support Center. We will keep you informed as to the progress of all potential projects. In the meantime, click here for some initial information about the December 20 meeting.
OAK HARBOR ULP STRIKE UPDATE
By BILL McCARTHY, Communications Specialist (November 24, 2008) Spirits continue to be high on the Oak Harbor Freight Lines Unfair Labor Practice Strike picketline in Auburn, Washington. But it is not easy on the line. It is cold, and getting colder. The Holiday Season is getting closer, and the Oak Harbor owners show no signs of any willingness to bargain fairly. So, the picketing continues, with meetings and court proceedings going on quietly and relentlessly in the background. There are many things that must be done by picketers during such times — including constructing signs, like the folks pictured toward the bottom of this story are doing. Even at night, the picketing continues. Some of the night picketers in Auburn are shown at the top of this story, bundled up against the cold but defiant and steadfast. AL HOBART OUTLINES THE FACTSRecently, Joint Council 28 President/International Vice President Al Hobart, who is leading the Oak Harbor negotiations, reviewed the complexities behind the ULP Strike of this Company. He said in part:
“Oak Harbor Freight’s owners, the Van der Pol family, continue to bargain in bad faith on our labor contract. And, now it’s been over two months since we were forced to walk off the job at Oak Harbor Freight Lines due to the Company’s unfair labor practices. … “We started bargaining for our contract in October 2007 and so far we’ve met with them on 24 separate occasions. But still, the Company won’t budge — all this while their business suffers and our members suffer. … “The National Labor Relations Board is pursing investigations into several labor law violations committed by the Oak Harbor Freight including coercing and threatening employees, as well as making unlawful changes to working conditions. We look forward to the NLRB’s decisions.” PICKETING CONTINUES AS HOLIDAYS NEARSo, the picketing goes on. If readers want to know more of the history behind this ULP Strike, they can tune in to the IBT’s special Oak Harbor web site on the Internet. On the site are many articles about what the Company and its owners did to cause the ULP Strike, stories by and about Oak Harbor workers, videotape interviews, and lots of pictures. Just follow this link: http://www.oakharborteamsters.com/ On the home page of the Oak Harbor site are these words, which pretty well sum up the workers’ frustrations: “Teamsters at Oak Harbor Freight have built this Company that has been in business for the last 90 years. Teamster members have worked as mechanics, pickup and delivery drivers, clerical staff, and line drivers. We are an integral part of the Company. Since late August of 2007, Teamster negotiators have been meeting with Oak Harbor management to work through the next collective bargaining agreement and achieve a finished product you can be proud of. This web site will provide updates on the progress of negotiations, and provide you with the facts. So, check in on a regular basis.” TEAMSTERS-DHL REACH SEVERANCE AGREEMENT CONFERENCE CALL OUTLINES LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN DHL’S VIRTUAL ABANDONMENT OF THE UNITED STATES MARKET (November 22, 2008) Teamsters Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks and Senior Business Agent Tim Allen were included in a National Telephone Conference held Friday morning, November 21, 2008 with other Local Unions signatory to the DHL National Agreement. The purpose of the conference call was to hear about the latest developments in DHL’s corporate decision to virtually abandon the U.S. Market. DHL’s plans call for reducing what today are approximately 5,800 jobs in the U.S. Market to about 500 jobs nationwide by the end of January 2009. Plans call for the Seattle Cluster to be reduced to one station and between 30-40 drivers more or less depending on volume. It is currently anticipated that the effect at BFX will be minimal. These plans will be finalized in an emergency change of operations meeting to be held the first week in December. IBT Express Division Chairman Bill Hamilton also laid out the terms of a severance agreement negotiated by the Express Division and DHL. (Click here to read the text of the Agreement.) Severance Eligibility: Any member not terminated for cause, whose layoff was the result of a reduction in volume, from June 6, 2008 through February 15, 2009, and who has at least one full year of service with DHL is eligible for the severance payments. This includes people on Worker’s Comp, FMLA, off the job injury, furlough, and leave for Union business. Severance Payments: Payments will equal two weeks pay for every year of service with the Company up to a maximum payment of 11 weeks. These payments will also include payments for health & welfare and pension as required by the various trusts around the country. However, in keeping with the contract, any superior local conditions as they relate to severance will prevail. Payments will be made at 40 hours per week as a “continuation of salary.” (Weekly payments) Accrued Vacation Time: At the conclusion of the severance payments, employees will be paid accrued vacation in a lump sum basis. Severance and Recall Rights: Acceptance of the severance package will end your employment relationship with DHL. Take the money; give up your five-year recall rights. Which, given the current circumstances, may not be that big a deal. However, it is something each of you needs to carefully consider based upon your seniority number and individual circumstances. Issues Still Exist Locally: There are still severance issues locally that will need to be addressed. Rick and Tim will be working with the Company and the Stewards to resolve those issues quickly as possible. Those issues should not be difficult to address but are too numerous to mention for this article. Implementation Date: The severance package is ultimately predicated upon completion of the change of operations process. Tim will be attending the change of ops meeting the first week in December and baring any problems associated with Local severance issues, it is anticipated severance agreements would be ready sometime mid-December. WARN Notice Triggers Rapid Response Team: The receipt of the official WARN Notice by the Local triggered a whole host of assistance from Federal, State, Labor and Community-based agencies. These efforts are coordinated through the Seattle-King County Rapid Response Team. The Rapid Response Team will be meeting with Tim, Tony Truant, and several Shop Stewards on November 26th to discuss options out there for those displaced members. A similar agency exists for Pierce and Snohomish Counties but for the sake of expediency those agencies have agreed to let the Seattle-King County Rapid Response Team coordinate this effort. After this meeting we hope to have a better idea about assisting displaced members with retraining options, job placement, resume assistance, unemployment issues, etc. MEETING TO DISCUSS ALL OF THIS: We will set up a meeting with all of you to discuss the severance, and Rapid Response Team assistance, after Tim returns from the change of operations meeting. The Local will notify you by mail of the specific time and date of that meeting when we get the details finalized. So please keep Sunday, December 7th and Saturday, December13th open. These have been difficult times at DHL. Finally we are getting answers to the questions about the Company’s plans and its effects on us. Rick and Tim want to thank all of you again for your support during this unimaginably heartwrenching time for you and your families. If you have any questions and concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us at the Local.
DHL REPORT FROM SEATTLE TIMES
(November 13, 2008) Yesterday an article appeared in the Seattle Times about the rapidly changing DHL situation. It was written by Business staff writers from the New York Times and the Seattle Times, with Seattle background input from Local 174. It is reprinted below.
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“People need to know that KeyBank finances Oak Harbor Freight Lines,” said Marv Deegan, a retired Oak Harbor Freight employee. “Since Oak Harbor cut off our health care, I have to decide whether to eat or to pay my insurance premium. This is a terrible hardship for my family.”
