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(Previous News content viewable here.)
Organizing Victory at Estenson!
Posted: November 29, 2011We are pleased to announce the success of the organizing effort at Estenson!
Yesterday, the NLRB counted the ballots and it was unanimous in favor of Teamsters Local 690.
Once certified we will welcome the 30 new drivers.
We thank them for their solidarity during this arduous campaign.
Hoffa Elected To Fourth Term By Overwhelming Margin
Posted: November 18, 2011Source: Teamster.org
James P. Hoffa: 137,172
Fred Gegare: 54,148
Sandy Pope: 39,251
See the Election Supervisor's Announcement of Final Ballot Tabulation results HERE. Ballot results organized by city and Local Union are available HERE.
(WASHINGTON) – International Brotherhood of Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa, his running mate for General Secretary-Treasurer Ken Hall and their entire slate, were elected today by a wide margin in the 2011 Election of International Union Officers. According to unofficial results provided by the Office of the Election Supervisor, the Hoffa-Hall Slate defeated their two challengers with 60 percent of the vote.
“The members have spoken,” Hoffa said. “This is not just our slate’s victory but a victory for all working Americans who are fighting to save America’s middle class. We traveled across this country to mobilize our members to fight the right-wing attack on workers. Teamster members responded because they know it is not workers who are to blame for the crisis facing America – it is the greed and corruption of big business and Wall Street and their bought and paid for puppets in Congress.
“Now that this election is completed we will intensify our efforts in the fight for all working families,” Hoffa added. “The Teamsters strength is in organizing the unorganized, fighting for strong health care, good wages, secure retirement, and holding employers and politicians accountable.”
Hall told supporters that he was humbled by the overwhelming support of the members and pledged to ramp up the campaign against corporate greed.
“We will never let up in the ongoing battle to provide good wages, benefits and working conditions for our 1.4 million members across North America, and organize tens of thousands of unrepresented workers. The right-wing corporate interests that are trying to destroy America’s middle class will find an energized and mobilized Teamsters Union that will fight to defend the principles that made this country great.”
The Hoffa-Hall Slate swept all five regions of the Union, the East, Central, South, West and Canada.
Hoffa first took office following his victory in December 1998 and was re-elected in 2001 and 2006 by substantial margins. By winning today, Hoffa is elected to another five-year term that will begin in mid-March 2012.
Having held office for nearly 13 years, Hoffa is the third longest serving General President in the 108 year history of the Teamsters Union. Only Dan Tobin, who served for 47 years, and James R. Hoffa, who served for 14 years, have held office longer.
The country’s most recognized labor leader, Hoffa has been in the forefront in the fight to block anti-union legislation that popped up in states across the country following the 2010 off-year elections. He dubbed the right-wing offensive the “War on Workers” and has spent the last year leading rallies in Ohio, California, Wisconsin, Michigan and dozens of other states threatened by the anti-union forces.
Hoffa’s efforts culminated in the overwhelming victory for union members in Ohio this past Tuesday when Ohio voters defeated Issue 2, an anti-union measure that would have severely weakened collective bargaining rights for more than 350,000 public employees.
“Ohio voters sent a wake-up call to American politicians: If you try to blame workers for problems caused by Wall Street you will pay a price. If you attack workers, you will lose. But if you stand up and fight for the middle class, you can win,” Hoffa said.
Hoffa, Hall and their slate pledged to continue the progress the Teamsters have made in national bargaining, organizing and political action.
“2012 will be a watershed year for Teamsters and for this nation,” Hoffa said. “Under our leadership, the Teamsters Union will continue to be a force for change and will lead our nation in efforts to improve the lives of working families.”
Vote totals can be viewed at www.ibtvote.org .
JC 28 Teamsters Women's Caucus: I WAS ACTIVE IN MY UNION TODAY
Even Hurricane Irene could not put a damper on the enthusiasm and energy of the participants
at the International Teamsters Women's Conference in August. Throughout the 3-day
Conference, Teamster Women from across the US, Canada & Puerto Rico attended workshops,
networked and renewed their resolve to FIGHT THE WAR ON WORKERS! Robin Gossett,
a school bus driver from Local 763, won the drawing for the trip to the conference and left New
York with additional tools and training to further the Union cause in her Local Union.
You could win a trip to San Francisco to attend the International
Teamsters Women's Conference in 2012 - Here's how:
From October 1, 2011 through April 30, 2012, all active JC28TWC
members will earn entries into the drawing for the trip to the 2012
Women's Conference by being active in their Union. Some of the
obvious activities that will earn entries are things like attendance at
rallies, visiting a picket line and carrying a sign to support brother &
sisters who are on strike, assisting in an organizing drive. But there are
so many other things that you can do to be active in your Union. Write
a pro-Union letter to the editor of your area newspaper. Give a
presentation on Union history at an area high school. Man (or is it
Woman?) a Teamster booth on career day. Organize a Teamster food
drive for the needy. You will also earn an entry for each new member
of the JC28TWC that you recruit. The possibilities are endless.
SO, GET OUT THERE AND START RECRUITING NEW
MEMBERS AND GET ACTIVE IN YOUR UNION!
Notify JC28TWC President, Mary Faragher of your activities by sending an
e-mail to JC28TWC@hotmail.com or calling 1-888-833-8390 ext 11 or mailing a
note to her at 1103 W Sylvester St., Pasco, WA 99301
OSHA -10 Training Coming Up
OSHA-10 is a mandatory 2-day class being offered this October in both Tukwila and Pasco. Space is limited, so be sure to call (888) 600-8297 to reserve your spot! Download flyer here.
TUKWILA
Teamsters Building
14675 Interurban Ave. S.
Tukwila, WA 98168
When: Friday, October 7, 2011
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
AND
Saturday, October 8, 2011
7:00 am – 2:30 pm
Teamsters/AGC Training Center
2410 E. St. Helens St.
Pasco, WA 99301
When: Friday, October 21, 2011
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
AND
Saturday, October 22, 2011
7:00 am – 2:30 pm
Marv Long Fundraiser October 1st
This is a fundraiser, part of the money will be going towards Marv Long Trust, part towards Cancer Care and part towards next years event. This Marv Long Fundraiser will be an annual event.
Get a Day-by-Day Account of the 2011 IBT Convention
Photos, daily session transcripts and newsletters are all available for you here! As are summaries of the Resolutions (with links to the complete text) and Election Results.
Speakers included a long list of folks, including service men, Hollywood stars, and even Vice-President Biden.
Downloads are available for each day's business. All you have to do is click here!
Teamsters Overwhelmingly Approve First Student National Agreement
Historic Agreement Improves Job Conditions, Protections For 20,000 Teamsters(WASHINGTON) – Teamsters overwhelmingly approved the first-ever national agreement with the largest private provider of school bus transportation in North America, First Student Inc. This historic agreement improves working conditions and job protections for more than 20,000 Teamsters who work at First Student. The contract was ratified by 91 percent.
“This national agreement is the result of the hard work and dedication of our Local Unions and Teamsters at First Student, and is a testament to the Union’s strong commitment to organizing workers who deserve fairness on the job,” said General President Jim Hoffa, Chairman of the Teamsters First Student National Negotiating Committee (TFSNNC). “By banding together as Teamsters, these workers have secured better job protections and working conditions for themselves and their families.”
This four-year national agreement improves workplace protections, creates a national grievance procedure and provides strong language to raise standards for Teamster members at First Student.
“This groundbreaking contract represents a positive step forward for Teamsters at First Student and all workers in the school bus industry,” said Rick Middleton, TFSNNC Co-Chair and International Vice President. “The gains made in this agreement will immediately benefit First Student Teamsters and their families and ensure a cooperative working relationship with the company for years to come.”
Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents more than 1.4 million hardworking men and women in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Visit www.teamster.org for more information.
Stop the War on Workers
Legislative sessions are winding down in many states, but the momentum continues for working families to use our strength in numbers to reclaim the American dream.Though 14 states tried to pass right-to-work (for less) bills to destroy unions, only New Hampshire has come close to succeeding. Public opinion has shifted in favor of collective bargaining rights as unions took center stage in many state capitols. A Gallup poll in April showed almost half of Americans agree with workers and their unions. Only 39 percent agree with the governors who attacked working people. The popularity of those governors - Scott Walker in Wisconsin, Tom Corbett in Pennsylvania, Rick Snyder in Michigan, John Kasich in Ohio, Rick Scott in Florida, and Paul LePage in Maine - has plummeted in the polls.
Protest moved to action in Wisconsin, where Teamsters gathered signatures to recall Republican senators who voted to strip collective bargaining rights from public sector unions. In Wisconsin's entire history, only four recall elections have been held. Remarkably, volunteers gathered enough signatures to require six Republican senators to face recall on July 12. Paid, out-of-state companies collected enough signatures to recall three Democratic senators who left the state to prevent the anti-worker vote, including our Teamster brother, Dave Hansen. Those signatures, however, are riddled with error. The Democratic Party of Wisconsin is alleging fraud and trying to quash the recall elections for the three senators.
Ohio law allows citizens to repeal unpopular laws. SB 5, the bill to take away collective bargaining rights from government workers, is extremely unpopular. A Wenzel Strategies survey from April shows 51 percent of Ohio voters favor a repeal of SB5, compared with just 38 percent who said they would vote to keep the new law in place.
As soon as Gov. John Kasich signed SB 5, Teamsters prepared for a massive signature-gathering drive. Local 436 trained 63 petition gatherers in one night. Teamsters throughout the state fanned out to collect
In Florida, the Legislature passed a budget that lets the state privatize prisons in Region 4 of the Florida Department of Corrections (FDOC) system. Gov. Rick Scott is expected to sign this attack on FDOC officers into law. With the passage of this bill, correctional officers at facilities in 18 counties in the state will face an uncertain future as their livelihoods and families' future will be sold to the lowest bidder. Teamsters International Vice President Ken Wood denounced the prison privatization
The good news in Florida is the failure of an effort to prevent public unions from using automatic payroll deduction to collect dues and to take away the right of unions to use payroll deductions for political purposes. A similar effort failed in Kansas.
An attempt to weaken child labor laws in Maine was killed by a unanimous committee vote last Friday.
In Massachusetts, the House passed a bill that takes away public unions' right to bargain collectively for health benefits. Senate President Therese Murray has said she opposes the bill, as does Gov. Deval Patrick. The bill's fate is uncertain.
Last week, the New Hampshire Legislature passed a right-to-work (for less) bill to destroy unions despite Democratic Gov. John Lynch's veto threat. Today, Gov. Lynch vetoed the bill. Speaker of the House William O'Brien is expected to bring up an override vote of the veto as early as May 25. Teamsters Local 633 in Manchester has taken charge of counting votes to make sure opponents of the bill would be there to block any attempt to override the veto.
We have neglected to mention the good work of Vermont Local 597 in South Barre, which was the lead organizer of the Feb. 26 rally in Montpelier. Dan Brush wrote a resolution to support the right of collective bargaining, which was passed by the House and Senate and forwarded to the Governors of Wisconsin, Ohio, and Indiana.
Teamsters were by far the largest contingent at a May Day rally that drew 2,000 people near the Statehouse in Hartford. Connecticut workers haven't endured the kind of assaults experienced by workers in Ohio, Florida, Wisconsin and elsewhere. But Dave Lucas, Teamsters Local 671's principal officer, told the crowd that they'd better be ready. "It can come up on you any time," he said. "We gotta be ready for it and send a message: "Don't bring that crap here."
Connecticut Teamsters came from Locals 493 in New London, Local 1150 in Stratford and Local 671 in Bloomfield. Joint Council 10 from New England brought four or five carloads of Teamsters (along with the Teamsters truck). Teamsters drove all the way from Local 633 in Manchester, N.H., Local 10 in Boston and Local 40 from Mansfield, Ohio. Local 671 gave "Stop the War on Workers' t-shirts to members and sold them to others at cost. They were gone by the end of the day.
"We really beat the bushes to get them to go, to get them aware, and it really worked," Lucas said. "This took on a meaning. We got something going."
To stay on top of our battle against corporate-backed politicians who are waging war on workers, go to www.stopthewaronworkers.org
NEW CSA Regulations You need to know that could affect your CDL
The FMCSA is changing the way it does business and it will affect YOU. Among other things, drivers will be scored, tracked, and penalized just like motor carriers. Everything counts now, not just out-of-service violations (OOS), crashes, and in some cases, moving violations.
Click here to read a detailed summary of the changes you need to know about.
Important UPS Savings Plan deferral to Teamster 401 (K) Plan
From: Ken Hall, Director
Package Division
I am writing to notify every Teamsters UPS Freight Local that the Board of Trustees of
the Teamster-UPS National 401 (k) Tax Deferred Savings Plan (''Teamster Plan") is allowing a
one time opportunity for your members to transfer their UPS Savings Plan ("UPS Plan")
balance to the Teamster Plan. This is a voluntary election that they will be able to make
between April 29, 2011, 4 p.m. EST and July 15, 2011, 4 p.m. EST.
As you know all 401 (k) contributions of Teamster-UPS Freight employees are being
contributed to the Teamster Plan instead of the UPS Plan. For your members who now have
accounts in both the UPS Plan and the Teamsters Plan, this one time election will transfer their
UPS Plan balance to the Teamsters Plan and allow them the convenience of seeing all of their
account information, including savings and investment performance, on one account statement.
It will also allow them the ease of managing their accounts through one plan instead of two.
Finally, they will know that their savings will be administered by a Board of Trustees consisting
of Teamster as well as UPS representatives. There are no tax consequences to transfer their
UPS Plan balance.
Your members have already received notification of this opportunity however their
balance will not automatically transfer; they must actively elect to transfer 100% of their UPS
Plan balance (including any money they may have in the Self-Managed Account) during the
period of April 29, 2011, 4 p.m. EST and July 15, 2011, 4 p.m. EST. To do so they must refer
to the notice they've received (attached) or call the Teamsters Plan at 1-800-537-0189.
Please remind your members of this opportunity. After July 15, 201 1 at 4 p.m. EST your
members will not be able to join their accounts.
Thanks for your help in bringing this to your members.
(Download the flyer with all the pertinent info here.)
Worker Memorial Day ceremony SATURDAY, APRIL 23 at 11 a.m.
at Spokane City Mission Park, 1300 block of E. Mission Ave.
Since 1989, the labor movement has observed Workers’ Memorial Day to remember those who have suffered and died on the job. As we remember those who died in workplace catastrophes, suffered diseases due to exposure to toxic substances or injured in dangerous working conditions, we rededicate ourselves to the fight for safe workplaces. As such, a typical theme for Workers Memorial Day has been "Mourn for the Dead, Fight for the Living."
Decades of struggle by workers and their unions have resulted in significant improvements in working conditions. But the toll of workplace injuries, illnesses and deaths remains enormous. More than 56,000 workers die annually from workplace injuries and illnesses; another 6 million are seriously hurt.
April 28 was chosen because it is the anniversary of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and has been recognized as an international day remembrance for dead and injured workers since 1996, when a Global Union delegation lit a commemoration candle to highlight the plight of workers at the United Nations. It has been officially endorsed by the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) and the International Labor Organization (ILO). Eleven countries or territories formally recognize April 28 as a national observance day: Argentina, Belgium, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, Dominican Republic, Panama, Peru, Portugal, Spain and Taiwan. A Workers' Memorial Day is observed in nearly 100 countries.
RESULTS OF THE IBT CONVENTION DELEGATE ELECTION
| DELEGATES | ALTERNATE DELEGATES | ||||
| Candidate Name | Number Of Votes | Candidate Name | Number Of Votes | ||
| Elected - | Richard Reilly | 519 | Elected - | J.J. Ohl | 509 |
| Elected - | John Lattanzio | 507 | Eric Johnson | 360 | |
| Elected - | Neil Moore | 505 | |||
| Carol Stone | 375 | ||||
| Dick Southwick | 375 | ||||
| Val Holstrom | 372 | ||||
Construction is off to a slow start this year, due to the economy. We hope to have about as good a year as last year which we all know was nowhere near an average year. For those of you working at Hanford, the Stimulus money made available, has kept the number of jobs relatively stable (for this economy). Please note that some of the Hanford employers are now requiring a hazardous endorsement on your license as condition of dispatch. To enhance your eligibility for dispatch you may want to consider obtaining this endorsement.
Bonner General Hospitalare ongoing. The Nurses Committee and the Business Agent are working very hard to complete negotiations for a successor agreement for the 109 Registered Nurses in Sandpoint. We’ve had about 15 sessions to date and hope to get a recommended offer soon. Issues on the table are economics and we are discussing the Teamsters Pension for the first time. Thank you to Committee members Angie Shadel, Debi Hanson, Karen Price, Karla McCorkle, Business Agents Mark Brandt, Terry Moser, and Sec.-Treas. Val Holstrom for your dedication and hard work to negotiate a second agreement for these deserving Nurses.
Cenex Harvest States (tanker division) are open and we are co-coordinating with the various Locals in Washington and Oregon for negotiating dates with the company. Negotiations are open for Central Pre-Mix, Coeur d’Alene. Proposal meetings and negotiating dates are being scheduled.
The Teamster Apprenticeship Program announced the retirement of Director Rick Imes, March 30, 2010. Rick led the Program since 1984. Thank you, Rick, for building this Program and for your many years of service. The new Director is Tom Hamilton. Many of you know Tom as he has been an Instructor for several years. Tom will continue to expand on the great Program developed by Rick. We would also like to welcome a new Instructor, Shelley Thompson. Shelly has many years in the field and her background and experience will be a great asset to the Program and our members. Shelly came to the Program from ACME Concrete Paving.
Workplace injuries have been a major issue in the Food Industry for our Teamster warehouse worker and driver members for a long time. Musculoskeletal disorders represent a huge loss for many members and their families, usually through no fault of their own.
Now one Teamster employer is taking a new approach to looking in to ways to address the problem at its grassroots level, where the work is done. URM Stores, Inc. has allowed a team of experts in the field of injury prevention to conduct a trial study of the URM drivers soon to determine what possible ergonomic and safety improvements can be made.
The expert team has received a government grant to perform the study and URM has graciously allowed the team to study the drivers on route to learn more about the essential functions of their jobs. We’re excited about the prospect that some day the results of this study might keep more of our members from being hurt on the job. Hats off to URM for this effort!
The members in many public sector bargaining units have had to make difficult decisions during the past 18 months due to County and City budget reductions. Although stressful, there have been an unprecedented percentage of members involved in the discussions and votes. ALL units have chosen to save the jobs of their fellow Teamsters, through various arrangements. These negotiated midcontract settlements have underscored the high value of being protected by a Labor Agreement; otherwise, the employers would have unilaterally imposed changes in pay, benefits and hours of work. When times get tough, Teamsters are taking care of each other, better than ever!
 John Merrick, a Teamster employed at American Medical Response, operates a ZIMEK Sterilization Machine at the Spokane Headquarters. The machine was acquired as part of the Stimulus Bill and is available to Spokane area fire, police and public transportation departments as well as AMR for the rapid decontamination of vehicles. |
 American Medical Response Teamsters EMT Hailey Karnitz and EMT John Prichard present a life saving demonstration to the Membership Meeting April 15, 2010. This demonstration showed emergency life saving techniques and safety procedures to the membership. |
Workers’ Memorial 2010
Members of Teamsters Local 690 attended the Spokane Labor Council’s and it affiliates’ sponsored Workers Memorial Ceremony held on Saturday, April 17. This is an annual event which honors those workers who lost their lives while on the job.
Pictured here left-to-right are Bill Joy (retiree), Pat Griffus (Nabisco), Mark Brandt (Business Agent), Marv Long (Waste Management), Terry Moser (BA), Buck Holliday (former Sec.-Treas.), Val Holstrom (current Sec.-Treas.), Ron Vevoda (BA) and Matt Tanner (President).
The Spokane Police and County Sheriffs Department Honor Guard opened the ceremony while a bagpiper from Musicians Local 105 played in the background. Governor Chris Gregoire’s husband spoke in the place of the Governor and State Representative Tim Ormsby spoke about the importance of worker safety.
After the Ceremony everyone in attendance retired to a BBQ hosted by the Labor Council. Local 690 thanks our employers Coca-Cola and Seven Up for donating the beverages for this important annual event.
This Memorial Ceremony is a reminder to all us that no matter how diligent we are with regards to working in a safe environment you can never work too safe.
Bye and Thanks, Buck!
The Staff and Membership would like to take this opportunity to thank Justin “Buck” Holliday for his many years of service to the Teamsters organization and the members whom he served. Buck announced his retirement effective June 30th of this year.
Buck began his career in the Freight Industry in 1964 with Local 741 working for Garrett Freight Lines until 1967, he moved to BN Transport in ’77, went to Insured Transporters in ’77- ’78, Oak Harbor Freight Lines ’78-’80 and was offered a job by 741 S-T Jerry Lavelle, and< became a Business Agent for Local 741 in ’80. Buck served the membership of 741 until 1984. Local 690 was fortunate that Buck was offered a position as Business Agent in ’85. Buck served in that capacity until his retirement. Buck became an Executive Board member and was elected Secretary-Treasurer in 1995 through 2010, when he decided not to run for reelection and actively supported the “Tried and True” Performance Team Slate.
Buck served the members of our Local and great International Union by serving in various capacities. Buck was a member of the Executive Board of Joint Council 28, Freight Director of Joint Council 28, Chairman of the Freight Committee, Chairman of Tank Haul Committee, Chairman of the North West Auto Transport Committee, Union Chairman of the Apprenticeship Trust, Trustee of the Washington Teamsters Welfare Trust, Trustee of the Freight Medical Trust, among others. Our members reaped the rewards of Buck’s innovative and dynamic leadership and experience. 
Buck was instrumental in shaping the direction and the policies of the various Trusts and Committees which benefit not only the members of Local 690 but all Teamsters. Thank you Buck for your lifelong leadership. Your personal sacrifice, on behalf of the membership, is immeasurably appreciated.
Left-to-right: Previous S-T Justin “Buck” Holliday and current S-T Val Holstrom holding up the plaque researched by Buck which expresses the history of Local 690 S-T’s from 1917 to the present. It was requested of Buck by some previous S-T’s to retrieve this information and Buck found great pleasure in doing so.
NAME OF S-T |
START OF TERM |
END OF TERM |
| Val Holstrom | January 2010 | Current |
| Justin “Buck” Holliday | 1/1/1995 | January 2010 |
| David G. Favor | 5/2/1994 | 12/31/1994 |
| Robert N. Ross | 1/1/1989 | 5/1/1994 |
| Herman R. “Bob” Wahl | 1/1/1983 | 12/31/1988 |
| Robert D. “Rocky” Lattanzio | 1/1/1980 | 12/31/1982 |
| L.E. “Mike” Olds | 1/1/1971 | 12/31/1979 |
| Edwards G. Johnson | Jan. 1965 | 12/31/1970 |
| J.E. Whitney | Jan. 1959 | Jan. 1965 |
| A.J. Ruhl | 1932 | Dec. 1958 |
| A.B. Sullivan | 1928 | 1931 |
| Ted Holmes | 1922 | 1927 |
| A.I. Jones | 1921 | 1925 |
| W.W. Sullivan | 1920 | -- |
| F.W. Fox | 1918 | 1919 |
| Ed McLaughlin | 1918 | -- |