We mentioned in the previous post we have some big news to share: Last week Teamsters Local 767 presented the lead case at the National Grievance Panel for the Premium Services Committee. In a nationwide, precedent-setting decision, Business Agent Andrew Reddell successfully defended and defined language upholding Article 43 guidelines.
Incorrectly, the company maintained an employee is only eligible to receive 6th and 7th punch pay for work performed outside of a complete sleeper job if that job is the employee’s bid position. This meant many workers, who are covering those routes and still reporting for 6th and 7th punches, were not being paid properly according to the Local’s interpretation of the contract.
Teamsters Local 767 and Business Agent Reddell argued this unjust practice before the panel and received a positive ruling, which will change the way UPS pays its drivers nationwide in these circumstances. All work performed outside of a complete sleeper job is definitively considered a 6th/7th punch.
We’d like to congratulate Business Agent Andrew Reddell on this major victory–a job very well done, benefitting thousands upon thousands of Teamster Brothers and Sisters across the country.
We walked in at midnight on New Year’s Day with one goal: Serving YOU.
On the Shop Floor and at the Gates
Last month, we ordered new Weingarten Rights cards for you to carry and have been distributing those at the gates while also signing up new members, gathering Feeder surveys regarding your experiences while using the Bendix/Wingman system (in order to build steam for our anti-Peloton platooning campaign), and ensuring every member we meet fully understands we are here to assist and how s/he can reach us. Over the course of the past few weeks, we’ve largely focused on shops in the most critical need of representation, blitzing those areas repeatedly during different times of the operation to drive our point home with management: We are not backing down.
New Steward Training
On March 2nd, Business Agents Andrew Reddell and Bobby Jach hosted our first New Steward Training Seminar, targeting the areas we identified as urgently needing Union involvement. Field Agent / Communications Director Kristan Turns led an exercise and discussion in signing up new members during orientation classes and encouraging coworkers to become more involved. President Perrier and Secretary Treasurer Romo attended as well, delivering helpful tips. Congratulations to all: Ruth Rich, Eugene Garcia, Jeff Winchester, Jess Davis, Alexander Dorsey, Chris Linton, Manuel Moreno, William Hale, Elizabeth Lopez, and Recording Secretary Debbie Jennings.
Contracts, Negotiations, Meetings, and Political Updates
Americold Brothers and Sisters, round two of negotiations begins March 11th. The contract has been extended through March 31st, with a third set of meetings also scheduled prior to that date. Business Agent Andrew Reddell reminds all Americold members in those facilities to focus on reaching out to coworkers to express the importance of supporting a solid contract by becoming engaged and active.
UPS Teamsters voted on supplemental agreements yesterday. Teamsters Local 89 reported:
Today votes were counted for three of the four remaining UPS supplements.
Local 243 members in Detroit voted 88.13% no. Members in the Western PA supplement voted 96.42% no. Notably, the company actually offered a worse contract to Western PA members in this round than they did in the first vote.
Central PA members also voted no by 56.62%. Unfortunately, this was not a 2/3rds rejection and less than 50% of eligible members voted, so it is almost certain that the IBT will forcibly ratify this agreement as they have so many others.
These agreements, plus Local 804’s supplement which will be voted soon, are the last UPS agreements remaining across the country.
We support and respect our Brothers and Sisters throughout the voting and negotiation processes. Once these agreements are all ratified, UPSers can expect retroactive pay increase reimbursements dating back to August 1, 2018.
Week before last, legislative language was introduced in Austin that would allow public transportation vehicles with connected braking systems to decrease the legally afforded following distances. We are communicating with the Texas AFL-CIO and other local unions, state politicians, and the IBT about this alarming issue that could usher in Peloton’s ability to also begin platooning practices here. Last week, President Perrier and Kristan Turns met with the President of the Tarrant County AFL-CIO and staff to outline thoughts and solutions going forward. 767 Political Coordinator Scott Sexton will be addressing the matter with members before the General Membership Meeting on March 23rd in an 8:30am Organizing and Political Education Committee gathering at the hall. All interested members are encouraged to attend.
Our agents have had a very busy month between local hearings and preparations thereof, SRAPGC, Deadlock Panel, and National Panel. We have very exciting updates in those areas and will be bringing you that news shortly.
During the February meeting, we welcomed Sister Karen Berry, a longtime UPS DFW Combo, back to her Union Hall home. Karen suffered a life changing, medical setback last year and has been in recovery and rehabilitation for many months. President Perrier presented her with an embroidered blanket, and Sister Berry received a standing ovation. We love you, Karen, and are so glad to see you up and full of fight.
BAs Don Pontecorvo, Jeff Schenfeld, and Secretary Treasurer / BA Romo delivered a 25-plus-year jacket this week to our Brother Mario Rangel from UPS Dallas Package. Rangel is battling aggressive cancer at this time, and we have him heavily in our thoughts and warmly in our hearts. Please send positivity, love, and prayers to our Brother and his family. Rangel, we stand with you.
Stay Tuned. Stand Ready.
We have several opportunities in the works for members to become more involved in various committees and projects happening within our Local and alongside our labor partners that we’ll be posting about shortly. If you are not already following our social media accounts, check them out via the icons on this page (to the right on desk/laptop versions and below on mobile).
We enjoyed connecting with so many of you today, Teamsters! BAs Schenfeld and Killion conducted a shop visit at UPS McKinney where they visited with lots of drivers prior to the start of their days and surprised hardworking Steward Garfield Hooper with a set of concert tickets, thoughtfully donated by House of Blues Dallas.
Amongst topics discussed were Workers’ Comp assistance and how to properly present an 8 Hour Request Form. Awesome crew up there! Afterward, Schenfeld and Killion attended local level hearings and reviewed pending cases.
In the early pre-pre-pre-dawn hours, President Perrier and BAs Andrew Reddell and Bobby Jach left to meet with a UPS Feeder Driver in Wichita Falls, TX, at 3 am. Then they traveled to Vernon to be present when Feeders were coming and going and to catch the Pre-load and Package Car employees. Shortly after sunrise, the three quickly hopped back to Wichita Falls, where they were able to visit with that facility’s Package Car and Pre-load sort, as well. While there, BAs Reddell and Jach changed the Vernon bulletin boards in the front and back of the building so members had current information, including the URL to our new website. It’s especially important for our most rural and long distance hubs to know they have access through additional means since traveling to the Union Hall is understandably more difficult for them.
Pres. Perrier with Wichita Falls Steward Adam Spikes
BA Reddell and Pres. Perrier visit with UPSers at Vernon.
Shop Steward Adam Spike in Wichita Falls with BAs Bobby Jach and Reddell
Smokewagon meets with Vernon members.
Out with the old and in with the new! BAs updated bulletin boards.
At UPS DFW, Business Agent Ben Scott sat in on local level hearings with UPS labor management (his first of the day, that is). Marine, longtime Teamster, and UPSer Brent Camp, DFW Day Air Ramp, was excited to receive the day’s second set of surprise, free concert tickets, also donated by HoB Dallas. Thanks for your hard work and decades-long service to our country, Brent. Enjoy the show!
Of course, this is just a brief snapshot of some of our shop visits, meetings, and other happenings today, but…you get the idea! If you see us at your hub, don’t be shy. Come introduce yourself, Brothers and Sisters. We are a Teamster family and we care about you.
