Spring 2010

Inland Empire Teamsters News

 

Oak Harbor Update
Upcoming NLRB Trial and New Contract Proposal

This memorandum is intended to give you an update on the upcoming National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) trial, and to present to you a summary of a contract proposal that will be submitted to your employer in advance of contract negotiations scheduled on April 15, 2010. All Local Unions representing Oak Harbor members are presenting this memorandum at all facilities and are available to review it with you and answer any questions. The Unfair Labor Practice Complaint issued by the NLRB against Oak Harbor, which describes the charges that are the subject of the trial, and a complete copy of the union’s contract proposal to the employer will be available at www.oakharborteamsters.com April 12, 2010.

A hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) is scheduled to begin on June 29, 2010. Given the number of unfair labor practice charges and the complexity of the case, a decision from the ALJ could take as long as a year to issue. In the meantime, negotiations have been scheduled April 15 at the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, and a mediator will be present with the parties. It is possible that these negotiations could resolve some or all of the charges that are scheduled for hearing.

The Union’s contract proposals include the following important features:

• Retains key provisions of the current no subcontracting provisions with some modifications;
• Modifies several bidding procedure rules, but keeps the most important bidding rights intact;
• Protects regular workweek guarantees and also provides the employer greater workday and workweek flexibility;
• Modifies the probationary period and its application;
• Retains accrued time loss disability but eliminates future accrual of time loss disability;
• Retains key provisions of the discipline and grievance procedures with some modifications;
• Continues the company health & welfare plan, with progressive funding caps for active employees;
• Provides for retiree health & welfare coverage under the Washington State Retiree Welfare Trust for all employees (except those Oregon members who are already retired under the Local 206 plan) subject to Trust approval;
• Continues participation in the Western Conference of Teamsters Pension Trust at the current contribution rates; and,
• Protects current wage scales, but no wage increases for the remainder of the contract duration (expires 10/31/13).

This union proposal was developed as a counter to the employer’s most recent offer. It is your Union Bargaining Committee’s judgment that this proposal has the best chance of providing a structure for a settlement to be achieved prior to the ALJ hearing. If this round of bargaining leads to a proposal that can be recommended by your Union Committee, there will be a ratification vote scheduled. The ratification process will include a complete discussion of all terms of the offer, implications of ratification or rejection, and other matters the membership will need to make an informed vote.

In summary, your Union Bargaining Committee recognizes that the opportunity to settle your Labor Agreement prior to the ALJ hearing warrants the steps taken to present this proposal in the upcoming negotiation meeting. Although our attorneys are confident that we have a good chance to prevail in that hearing, there is always a chance that we could have an adverse decision that could undermine our future bargaining position. There are other factors including the state of the economy, other union and non-union trucking labor rates, and the health of your employer that are being considered in the current negotiating opportunity. How such factors may change, or not change if we do not settle a labor agreement at this time have also been weighed by your Union Committee.

Obviously, it will depend on whether the company recognizes the value of settling the Labor Agreement at this time. Given the fact that the Union workforce will ultimately require that a Collective Bargaining Agreement be resolved, that the business is slowly improving, and the good working relationships that are returning throughout the union terminals, it would be reasonable for the employer to seek a settlement at this time. The proposal being submitted by your Union constitutes a fair basis for both sides to go forward.

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Local 690 Election News: Great Support For "Tried 'N True"

WORKING TOGETHER
We thank the membership for their support and involvement in the election process. Now is the time for all Teamster members to put the election behind us, and work together to move our Local Union forward during the next three years.

Your newly elected Executive Board is looking forward to making Local 690 stronger with expanded involvement of the membership.

We also want to thank Beth Thew, President of the Spokane Labor Council, for co-coordinating our election and ballot count. Her team of volunteers did a professional and thorough job of making the ballot count run smoothly and accurately. Their help was greatly appreciated. Other members of Beth’s team: Jennifer Mackay, SPEEA; Ed Wood, Jr. and Marsha Beck, Communication Workers of America 7818; Dave Miletich, UFCW Local 21; and Tina Morrison and Kevin Milligan, Musicians Local 105.

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Project Learn Progress

Much gratitude is due to Project Learn Coordinator Ryan Beetham and IBT Training Specialist Sally Payne for helping us conduct another successful Stewards’ Training Seminar that once again earned rave reviews from the attendees. Stay tuned to find out the next step from Ryan in leading us into the future with Project Learn.

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Miscellaneous

1.) IT WAS A GREAT MEMBERSHIP CHRISTMAS PARTY!
We had our annual Membership Appreciation Christmas Party on December 19th at the Local’s Union Hall. Your newly elected Executive Board was introduced to the members and guests. Members of the Musicians Local 105, “The Celestial Strings,” Kathleen Czoski, Manager, provided the entertainment during the festivities. Many friends and retirees attended and we want to thank Tom Nichols for obtaining the prizes that were given away. A luncheon of chicken, sandwiches, homemade soup, and desserts was served at the end of the meeting.

2.) WITHDRAWAL CARDS
If you are off work due to a layoff, illness or injury, you may take a withdrawal card. Dues must be current. You will be put on an inactive status until you return to work. The downside of a withdrawal card includes cancellation of the life insurance, and you can’t attend Union meetings. You can’t run for office without 2 years continuous membership in good standing prior to the election.

3.) OFFICE HOURS
Local 690 is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

4.) ADDRESS CHANGES
For receiving all 690 info, i.e., general membership meeting, craft meeting, Local Union election, and other pertinent information, contact the Local to make sure your current mailing address is correct.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Thank you again for your support and we hope all of you had a Happy Holiday Season, a Merry Christmas, and a joyous New Year’s Day.

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More Local 690 News Items

Local 690 Business Representative Ron Vevoda was able to successfully resolve a grievance filed on behalf of Brad Derting and all members at AMR. This grievance involved the improper placement in the wage matrix of the contract and was settled with full back wages for all affected members. This led to the disbursement of nearly $10,000 in wages and bonus payments to the membership. The payments were received December 17, 2009.

Public Sector bargaining units continue to be under pressure from their respective employers to consider cost cutting measures including: wage and benefit concessions, furloughs, layoffs. Stewards and bargaining unit members are working to find creative means of addressing the effect of budget short-falls. It is encouraging to see the unity of members in these difficult times. …
Congratulations to Amy Sullivan for her fundraising efforts to find a cure for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. She recently ran in a marathon to raise funds for this worthy cause. Amy is a dedicated attorney in the Spokane County Assistant Public Defenders’ Of fice Bargaining Unit. Her commitment to help others is commendable. An excerpt from her webpage reads:

“I’m training to participate in an endurance event as a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Team In Training All of us on Team In Training are raising funds to help stop leukemia, Iymphoma, Hodgkins Iymphoma and myeloma from taking more lives. I am completing this event in honor of all individuals who are battling blood cancers. These people are the real heroes on our team, and we need your support to cross the ultimate finish line — a cure! “

Amy Sullivan exemplifies the Teamsters’ spirit of giving of one’s self to help others! …
Pictured to the right is Santa Claus, aka Rick “Mountain Man” Robinson, leaving from his home in the North Pole to travel to Newport so the kids of Newport can have their picture taken with Santa. Rick is a retiree from Central Pre-Mix and he and his wife Liza have opened their shop for the kids to meet and have their picture taken with Santa for many years. Thanks, “Mountain Man” — oops, we mean Santa — for giving back to the kids and community of Newport.
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We would like also to acknowledge Mike Gladden, Shop Steward for Shamrock Paving, for his many years of volunteering his time with the Sea Scouts to give the kids in our community a chance to learn something about sailing and possibly jump starting a career in the Navy or Coast Guard. Thank you, Mike, for your unselfish dedication to the young people of our community. …

Dolly Fox, pictured at right, is a UPS 32-year UPS employee, officially she started in October 1977 as a peak hire, but was not hired until January 1998. Dolly will be leaving UPS in the middle of January 2010 and officially retiring in March. Dolly has a good Union family. She has been a Teamster for 32 years, her son Keith Gunderson was a Teamster with Waste Management for a number of years and is currently with the Operating Engineers, and Roni Fox, her daughter, works with the State Liquor stores. Dolly is retiring from UPS under PEER 84 with a full pension. She is reaping the benefits of a pension that is one of the better pensions a part-time employee could ask for. Dolly says she will keep busy but does not have any specific plans. She will take the opportunities as they come, and wants to enjoy life. She will volunteer and stay busy. We will miss Dolly, and hope everyone that knows her will have a chance to say good-bye to her before she leaves.

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Local 690 congratulates Steve Phelan, a forklift operator at the Safeway Produce Warehouse in Spokane for the past 20 years. Steve retired December 31, 2009 to the good life at his residence in Deer Park Washington. 

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Clyde Dickie, pictured at right, retired a second time in December from Degerstrom. He worked in construction over 37 years, most of the time with Degerstrom. He plans on continuing to raise cattle, do a little traveling, and get to work restoring his ’59 Thunderbird. Congratulations on your retirement. You’ve earned it.

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Eric Johnson, left, newly-elected 690 Trustee who works for Waste Management, is pictured “at bat” in a Superior, Montana Upper Men’s Slowpitch Tournament in July. Eric’s Tournament batting average was over .700 and it is rumored the Mariners, who are sorely in need of some batting punch, are offering him a tryout in Spring Training this year in Peoria, Arizona.  Good going, “Eagle Eye Eric.”

Congratulations are in order for Jeff, pictured at right, and Amanda Thew. They are proud parents of their newest addition, Emma. Emma was born on December 10, 2009. Jeff is a UPS Driver at the Spokane South/Valley Center. He has been working at UPS for 11 years and has been a driver for the past 3 years.