Northwest Airlines Flight Attendants bolted the Teamsters Union today for an upstart independent union, the Professional Flight Attendants Association, in one of the largest decertification votes in the history of the Teamsters.
The responsibility for this setback falls squarely on the shoulders of James Hoffa and the Teamster leadership who alienated the Flight Attendants with weak contract negotiations and strong-arm tactics.
* Weak bargaining: The Hoffa administration opened a breach with the Flight Attendants in the last round of contract bargaining at Northwest in 1999. Hoffa sent each
Flight Attendant six mailings and a video hyping a weak contract, which the Flight Attendants overwhelmingly rejected. Hoffa retaliated by dismantling the Flight Attendants grassroots contract mobilization network called the Contract Action Team.
* Sexist and anti-gay slurs: At the 2001 Teamster Convention, Hoffa delegates repeatedly jeered and interrupted Local 2000 speakers with sexist and anti-gay comments. A court-appointed Election Administrator interrupted the Convention proceedings when Hoffa
delegates whistled and cat-called at Local 2000 Secretary-Treasurer Bob Krabbe. The Hoffa forces were orchestrated by walkie-talkie wielding "floor whips" throughout the attacks on the Flight Attendant leaders.
* Elected officials removed: When the independent union (PFAA) started their decertification drive in the summer of 2002, the Hoffa administration's first reaction was to remove the elected officers of the Flight Attendant's Local
2002, the Hoffa administration's first reaction was to remove the elected officers of the Flight Attendant's Local 2000--reformers who defeated Hoffa-backed candidates in the local union election. Hoffa took this step despite warnings from TDU and even some Hoffa
administration insiders that this would further alienate Flight Attendants.
* Discredited officials appointed: Hoffa then appointed discredited officials to run the union because they were politically loyal to the Hoffa administration, despite the fact that Flight Attendants have voted against Hoffa by at least 90 percent in the last three Teamster elections for International officers.
* Alternative courses ignored: The Hoffa administration refused to reverse any of these policies even after it became clear that his strong-arm tactics were only fueling the decertification drive. TDU leaders tried repeatedly to consult with and help the Teamster
leadership, calling for expanding the Teamster leadership
team, promising a clear end-date to the trusteeship with a pledge that the unpopular Hoffa-appointees would not seek office, and a pledge to
involve the PFAA and Teamster supporters equally, a new day for Teamster Flight Attendants.
But some in the Hoffa administration wanted to have the Flight Attendants leave the union, to be rid a group -- mostly women -- who did not support Hoffa politically in internal Teamster elections, and who actively opposed his dues hike last year.
Hoffa's strong-arm tactics pushed many Flight Attendant activists and the entire elected executive board into supporting the breakaway union--effectively ending any chance at keeping the Flight Attendants in the Teamsters.
TDU tried to convince Flight Attendants that sticking with the Teamsters and working within it for reform was a better
course of action than creating a small new union from scratch. A number of Flight Attendants did vote for the course advocated by TDU, but not enough to offset the thousands alienated by the Hoffa administration.
"Hoffa essentially drove 11,000 Teamsters out of the union, 75 percent of them women, by refusing to deal with their issues or their elected leaders," said TDU National Organizer Ken Paff.
"This is no way to send a signal that the Teamsters are open to new voices, to women, to the diverse workers that we need to build a strong union in the 21st century. This sends a signal that the Teamsters Union is run by an old-boys club that refuses to open up and listen to dissenting voices. Apparently those in power want to make sure it stays that way, even at the expense of driving members out of the union." Paff said.
Hoffa's General Executive Board has 24 voting members.
Twenty-three of those 24 are men and 23 are white.
Jimmy Hoffa single handily got rid of 11,000 Teamsters.
Do you know !
"WHAT YOUR FUTURE is with the TEAMSTERS" lets take a LOOK.
IBT officials proposed cuts in secret talks with employers
Central States Fund Slashes Benefits
The Central States Fund trustees announced drastic cuts in our pensions and retiree health and welfare at an officers-only meeting on November 19.
IBT officials tried to claim that a judge ordered the fund to impose the cuts. But court documents exposed that the drastic cuts were proposed by our own union trustees–including two International Vice Presidents.
The court documents also revealed that union and employer trustees have been secretly meeting for almost a year to plan the benefit cuts.
Judge James B. Moran said “The Trustees have been working for much of 2003 to develop a package of prospective benefit reductions. The trustees appointed by the employers and the trustees appointed by the employees prepared and exchanged benefit reduction proposals.” (See Marshall v. Robbins, Case No. 1:78-cv-4075, doc. #1235. Available online at http://www.ilnd.uscourts.gov/racer2/index.html .)
Moran revealed that our own union trustees proposed all the cuts that have now gone into effect and asked that the employers contribute more money to the pension fund at a special board meeting on September 3.
Not surprisingly, the employers agreed to the pension cuts but refused to contribute more money.
The proposed cuts were then jointly presented to Judge Moran who approved the package and asked to be kept informed about the progress of negotiations over increased funding.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS REGARDING THE
PENSION
BENEFIT CHANGES EFFECTIVE 1/2004
Please find below general information to frequently asked questions regarding changes in the PENSION FUND that become effective January 1,
2004. The information below is intended to generally explain the benefit changes and assist you in answering questions from your membership.
More detailed answers can be found in the TeamWork magazine.
DO THE CHANGES AFFECT THE MONTHLY PENSION AMOUNT OF CURRENT RETIREES RECEIVING
PENSION BENEFITS FROM THE PENSION FUND ?
No. Benefits paid to the current retirees and surviving spouses remain unchanged.
HOW WILL THE CHANGES AFFECT MEMBERS WHO RETIRE PRIOR TO DECEMBER 31, 2003 ?
The pension benefit changes announced become effective January 1, 2004. Therefore the changes do not affect members who
retire on or prior to December 31, 2003. However there are liberalized Reemployment Rules effective January 1, 2004 that
affect all retirees regardless of their retirem ent dates. (See separate document.)
HOW WILL THE CHANGES AFFECT MEMBERS WHO RETIRE AFTER DECEMBER 31, 2003 ?
This question is a bit more complicated to answer. Under the plan changes effective January 1, 2004, a member’s monthly
pension benefit will now be the highest of four different and separate calculations. It is important to note that each member’s
calculation will now be different. Under the previous rules, a member could determine their Contributory Credit Pension by
looking at a chart and determining the amount based on age and Contributory Credit. Under the plan changes effective January
1, 2004, it is no longer possible to determine a pension amount based solely on looking at a chart. The member will receive the
greater of the following:
Ø Member’s Protected Contributory Credit Pension plus any Post 2003 benefits
o SUMMARY: Member’s Protected Contributory Credit Pension, determined by calculating the member’s
Protected Contributory Credit percentage and benefit as of the member’s retirement date added to the member’s
Post 2003 Benefit (age reduced by 6% for each year of early retirement*) from 1/1/2004 through retirement date
Ø Member’s Payable Benefit plus any Post 2003 benefits
o SUMMARY: Member’s Payable Benefit (benefit amount if member retired as of December 31, 2003) added to
member’s Post 2003 Benefit (age reduced by 6% for each year of early retirement*) from 1/1/2004 through
retirement date
Ø Member’s Contribution Based Benefit as of 12/31/2003 plus any Post 2003 benefits
o SUMMARY: Member’s total Contribution Based Benefit that is calculated at an accrual rate of 2% for all
contributions from 1/1/86 through 12/31/2003 added to an accrual rate of 1% for all contributions after 1/1/2004
(age reduced by 6% for each year of early retirement*).
Ø Member’s Twenty Year Service Pension or Deferred Pension
o SUMMARY: Member’s Twenty Year Service Pension or Deferred Pension based on their benefit class.
* Paid in full at 65 or 62 with at least 20 years of Credit
MEMBERS CAN USE THE PENSION CALCULATOR ON THE FUND’S WEBSITE TO DETERMINE THEIR FUTURE BENEFITS .
THE “POST-2003 BENEFIT” HAS BEEN REDUCED TO 1%. IN THE FUTURE CAN THAT BE REVISED?
The Trustees can adjust the 1% accrual formula. If the Fund’s investments perform well and the Fund’s financial situation
stabilizes, the Trustees could consider benefit improvements. Keep in mind that benefits will increase automatically, even after
the change, as the employer’s contribution rate increases.
ARE THERE STILL CONTRIBUTORY PENSIONS LIKE THE 25 AND OUT AND 30 AND OUT PENSION?
Yes, Although the Contributory Pension Benefits in benefit classes 15 and higher are still available, the accrual and calculation of
these benefits have changed. Please refer to the handout with examples of how these benefits will now be calculated.
CAN YOU STILL RETIRE AT ANY AGE?
Yes. The 25 and Out Pension and 30 and Out Pension are still available but the benefit amount will be based on the Protected
Contributory Credit portion earned as of 12/31/2003 and any Post 2003 benefits as described above. However, it should be
noted that there have been changes to the age requirements and co-payments for the Retiree Health Plan.
OUR CURRENT CONTRACT HAS PENSION INCREASES NEGOTIATED IN THE FUTURE, HOW DOES THE
CHANGES AFFECT THAT?
If a contract has already been negotiated, the Fund will recognize the last benefit class in the collective bargaining agreement
provided that the contract has been ratified prior to December 31, 2003.
CAN A HIGHER BENEFIT CLASS STILL BE NEGOTIATED IN FUTURE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
AGREEMENTS?
• FOR GROUPS CURRENTLY AT BENEFIT CLASS 16 AND HIGHER:
Since your pension benefit after December 31, 2003 will be based solely on a percentage of the contributions paid on
your behalf, future Collective Bargaining Agreements can negotiate any amount of monetary increase. Any negotiated
monetary increase will increase the Post 2003 Benefit; however, a group will not be allowed to move up to a higher
Benefit Class.
• FOR GROUPS CURRENTLY AT BENEFIT CLASSES LOWER THAN BENEFIT CLASS 16:
Collective Bargaining Agreements with rates in Benefit Classes 1 through 15 may still negotiate annual increases in
their Benefit Class up until they reach a maximum of Benefit Class 15C. Once Benefit Class 15C is met any negotiated
monetary increase will increase the Post 2003 Benefit; however, a group will not be allowed to move up to a higher
Benefit Class. Beginning January 1, 2004, participants must work at least one year in a higher Benefit Class to
establish that class.
ARE SELF-CONTRIBUTIONS STILL AN OPTION IF I GET LAYED-OFF?
Self-contributions will no longer be permitted for qualifying events (lay-off, sick leave, strike, or leave of absence) that initially
commence after December 31, 2003. However, the self-contribution rules remain unchanged for qualifying events that
occurred prior to January 1, 2004. For example, a member currently making self-contributions due to a lay-off that occurred prior
to December 31, 2003 will still be allowed to continue making those self-contributions up to the maximum allowed by the Plan.
WHAT IS THE PROCEDURE IN NOTIFYING THE FUND OF EMPLOYMENT WHILE ON PENSION ?
The Reemployment Rules have been liberalized as of January 1, 2004 and apply to all current and future retirees. Although
reemployment rules outline the Fund’s policy, members must still notify the Fund of any employment after retirement. Retirees
can either write the Fund or call the Toll-Free Department at 1-800-323-5000. The Fund will respond with written
correspondence once the reemployment issue has been reviewed.
Hoffa Criticizes UPS Pension Grab
November 20, 2003
Mr. Michael Eskew
CEO and Chairman of the Board
UPS
55 Glenlake Parkway, N.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30328
Dear Mr. Eskew:
UPS is lobbying on Capitol Hill for legislation that would make it more difficult for Teamster related pension funds to solve the current pension crisis created by the unprecedented fall in the stock market over the last three years.
The Teamsters and UPS have had an understanding, apparently up until UPS’ current course, that we would work together in the legislative arena where UPS and the Teamsters Union shared a common interest. One such interest, of course, is the continued viability and improvement of Teamster plans as well as all multi-employer plans. It is therefore difficult for me to understand why your lobbyists are working overtime to undermine legislation that would provide some relief for multi-employer pension funds that are facing problems. And, at the same time, push for legislation targeting only Teamster Plans. Worse, UPS informed the Union that the Company would not interfere with the relief package.
UPS’ attempt to undermine the legislation that would give our joint funds the option to suspend the amortization of recent investment losses is a direct attack on the pension security of our members at UPS and throughout the Teamsters Union. We highly resent what appears to be an effort to achieve legislatively what UPS was not able to achieve at the bargaining table.
Our members struck in 1997 to prevent the raiding of our pension and health and welfare funds. The members spoke loudly and clearly during our last negotiations that they would not stand for another attack on our Funds. The Teamsters Union does not intend to sit idly by as UPS attempts to use its political influence to push our funds into further crisis.
Sincerely,
James P. Hoffa
General President
Teamsters Corruption Investigation Quits
By LEIGH STROPE AP Labor Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) - A former federal prosecutor hired by the Teamsters to help wipe out union corruption is accusing union President James P. Hoffa of resisting his efforts to investigate allegations of organized crime activity.
But Hoffa rejected the charges by Edwin H. Stier, the former prosecutor hired nearly five years ago to run the internal anti-crime program, who quit Thursday with his team of investigators, lawyers and advisers. He said Stier's allegations were "reckless and false."
Hoffa cited the more than 30 local unions put into trusteeship over corruption charges as examples of anti-corruption commitment.
"As Stier states in his letter, no organization that I am aware of has gone to the lengths that the Teamsters union has to deal with the threat of corruption," Hoffa said.
Stier, who could not be reached at his New Jersey law office Thursday night, said in his resignation letter that Hoffa had "backed away from the Teamsters' anticorruption plan in the face of pressure from a few self-interested individuals."
The team "began to experience active resistance" from Hoffa's office over an investigation into possible corruption in Chicago that was based on "substantial reliable information that organized crime again threatens the union," Stier said.
Instead of allowing that investigation and others to continue, Teamsters officials turned over the information to the Justice Department and other authorities. Stier, in his letter, said he has confidence in those investigators but that "such a shift in responsibility can only result in a loss of momentum and a disruption in continuity."
If the 1.4 million-member union was trying to duck investigations, it would not have referred the allegations and information to government authorities, said Patrick Szymanski, Teamsters general counsel.
Instead, Stier was unhappy that the union decided to avoid spending millions of dollars on an investigation into questionable allegations, Szymanski said. Also, the allegations involved people outside the union, which were out of Stier's jurisdiction, he said.
Already, the union had spent $15 million on the program, of which about $8 million went to Stier and his team, he said. The project was created in 1999 to help persuade the government to drop its oversight of the union. The Teamsters agreed to allow government supervision to settle a 1989 lawsuit charging the union was controlled by organized crime.
"There's a balance to be struck here about spending millions and millions of dollars to investigate every little allegation that anybody raises," Szymanski said. "There are always people that have political axes to grind, who have their own political agendas to pursue."
The government has made clear that the internal anti-crime program, though it has produced positive results, will not help end government oversight, Szymanski said, claiming its efforts often duplicated those of a judicial panel, the Independent Review Board, appointed to monitor the union under the 1989 settlement.
"Should we be spending $15 million, or should this be done by agencies with subpoena power?" he said.
The Chicago investigation includes allegations of kickbacks involving a company run by organized crime. Szymanski said officials were skeptical about charges and questioned whether Stier's unidentified sources were credible. Stier also accused Hoffa of foot-dragging on a Houston corruption case also involving kickbacks. Teamsters officials deny any deliberate delays.
Stier produced a massive report in 2002, declaring that organized crime had no influence in the union. While there were still pockets of mob influence, they were all under active investigation, he said.
"There is clearly no power by anyone connected with organized crime to influence or control the policymaking of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters anymore," he said then.
Stier, in his resignation letter, said Hoffa has "permitted anticorruption investigations to be undermined to a degree that honest Teamsters who came forward with information believing that the union would protect them, now feel abandoned."
"They are convinced that once again, those who have influence in the general president's office have immunity."
2004-04-30 08:34:06 GMT
USF Red Star contests Teamster job action with NLRB filing
USF Red Star, an operating company of USF Corporation, has filed a petition with the National Labour Relations Board (NLRB) in response to last week’s actions by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT), which resulted in a work stoppage at all USF Red Star facilities.
(5/24/2004)
The petition requests the NLRB preserve the rights of USF Red Star's 15 office workers in Philadelphia to a normal election process.
John O' Sullivan, Chief Operating Officer for USF Red Star said on Friday, “The IBT's actions today are an effort to circumvent the normal, democratic, lawful process by which people in this country can make decisions on union representation. We support the process outlined by the National Labour Relations Board and our employees’ right to choose in a non-coercive environment. We will defend those rights vigorously starting with today's petition. In addition, we have also requested that the NLRB conduct an expedited election that will allow our employees to exercise their right of choice.”
USF Corporation's other less-than-truckload subsidiaries - USF Dugan, USF Reddaway, USF Bestway and USF Holland - continue to operate.
Members Sue for Clean Contract Votes
Teamster officials have admitted under oath to stunning election irregularities that call into question the integrity of every national contract vote — covering 300,000 Teamsters — conducted over the past five years.
Teamster members are responding with litigation to win voting safeguards, including the right for pro and con observers at all national contract votes.
A lawsuit by courageous Michigan carhaulers has uncovered voting irregularities that marred the 2003 carhaul contract. But the implications go far beyond one contract vote. The same people, the same procedures are used on all national contracts, including UPS and freight.
Here are the facts as revealed by Teamster officials under oath:
In the 2003 carhaul vote, the International mailed out 50 percent more ballots than there were carhaulers covered by the contract.
The IBT did not check voter eligibility or the validity of any of the returned ballots. They counted every ballot that came back without any scrutiny or challenge.
James DeHaan “certified” the vote count of the Michigan Office Supplement even though he never counted or tabulated any of the ballots. In fact, DeHaan certified this particular vote without leaving his Detroit home. The ballot count was held in Washington, D.C.
The person tabulating the overall ballot count was Hoffa’s 2001 campaign manager, Todd Thompson.
The agency conducting the count was a printing company that was caught giving an illegal campaign contribution to Hoffa’s campaign in 2001.
These facts came to light because of a federal lawsuit filed by three Michigan Teamsters, after they discovered that the results were tampered with in the ratification of their small Michigan Office Workers Supplement to the national contract.
The voting scandal has now widened to cover the lack of safeguards in the national carhaul contract as well as the voting on the UPS, freight, Continental Airline and Anheuser Busch contracts and supplements. In each case, the same flawed procedures were in place.
Teamsters Deserve a Fair Vote
We believe Teamsters are entitled to a fair contract vote — one that all members can have confidence in.
We believe there must be provisions for an adequate number of pro and con observers, with the right to challenge ballots, just as in union officer elections.
We believe the eligibility and validity of voters and ballots need to be open to scrutiny — no matter who the officers are.
That’s where TDU stands. How about you?
Do you want your next contract vote safeguarded, so that all Teamsters can have confidence in our contracts and union? If so, pitch in to help make it happen.
TDU won the right to vote for International officers. TDU won the right to majority rule on contracts. Today, we are gearing up to win the right to fair contract votes with observers and proper safeguards. And, if concerned Teamsters join the fight, we can win.
If you’re not a member of TDU, now is the time to join, and invest in fair contract votes and a stronger union.
You can also send a donation, earmarked for the Fair Contract Litigation Fund, to TRF—the Teamster Rank & File Education and Legal Defense Foundation. Funds are needed to cover the costs involved and make a lawsuit possible. Contact TDU by email or by phone at (313) 842-2600 to learn more. The contract vote you protect could be your own.
Contact TDU:
tdu@tdu.org
P.O. Box 10128
Detroit MI, 48210
(313) 842-2600
USF Red Star seeks damages from Teamsters
USF Red Star has hit back at the International Brotherhood of Teamsters with a lawsuit alleging that the strike initiated by the union in May last year violated federal labour law.
(1/21/2005)
According to USF, the strike resulted in a loss of customers and revenue, and USF shut down the Red Star unit three days into the work stoppage, putting more than 1,500 Red Star employees out of work.
USF is reportedly seeking “millions” in damages, which includes compensation for lost revenue as a result of the strike, as well as legal fees.
One of USF’s complaints against the union alleges that the Teamsters breached the Red Star labour agreement regarding strike notifications.
Yellow Roadway to acquire USF Corp
Yellow Roadway Corp and USF Corp announced on Saturday that they have entered into a definitive agreement pursuant to which Yellow Roadway will acquire USF for approximately $1.37 billion.
(2/28/2005)
The transaction value is based on the Yellow Roadway trailing 90-day closing stock price as of February 18, 2005. Yellow Roadway will also assume an expected $99 million in net USF debt, resulting in a total enterprise value of approximately $1.47 billion.
While the agreement has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies, the transaction is subject to the approval of shareholders of both companies, and is also subject to the expiration or termination of the waiting period pursuant to the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvement Act of 1976, as amended, and other customary closing conditions.
The acquisition is expected to close in summer 2005. The combined enterprise is expected to have annual revenue in excess of $9 billion, with over 70,000 employees and 1,000 service locations.
“This is a case of opportunity knocking twice,” said Bill Zollars, chairman, president & CEO of Yellow Roadway. “USF represents an excellent opportunity to leverage the successful strategy that was employed with Roadway. When applied to USF, this includes maintaining the strong separate brand identities, customer interfaces and distinct operations of each business unit.”
Zollars added that Yellow’s strategic rationale for this transaction is focused on enhanced scale, complementary service offerings and significant cost synergies. USF provides Yellow Roadway with immediate and nationwide scale in next-day and regional markets, which are among the fastest growing transportation segments. “Additionally, our logistics and truckload capabilities will be enhanced by the USF service capabilities,” he said.
According to Paul Liska, executive chairman of USF, the transaction creates significant value for USF shareholders, employees and customers from both a near- and long-term perspective. “In addition to the substantial synergies available, the USF companies gain access to industry-leading technology and opportunities to share best practices that will benefit our combined customer bases.”
The transaction is expected to be accretive to Yellow Roadway earnings per share within twelve months of closing. Approximately $40 million of net synergies are expected within the first twelve months along with run rate synergies of $80 million per annum after the first twelve months. Longer-term synergy opportunities are estimated to be at least $150 million per annum in total.
Upon the closing of the transaction, the following individuals will lead the key divisions of the combined entity and report directly to Zollars:
Jim Staley, current president of the Roadway Group, will become president of the Yellow Roadway regional companiesm which will include New Penn Motor Express, USF Holland, USF Reddaway, USF Dugan and USF Bestway. Staley will also be responsible for the truckload unit of USF, Glen Moore.
Bob Stull, who currently reports to Jim Staley as president of Roadway Express, will continue in that role and report directly to Zollars.
James Welch, president of Yellow Transportation, will continue in that role.
Jim Ritchie will continue as president of Meridian IQ, the logistics unit of Yellow Roadway, which will include the operations of USF Logistics.
Mike Smid will remain as president of Yellow Roadway Enterprise Services and chief integration officer.
It is anticipated that one current member, yet to be determined, of the USF board of directors will join the Yellow Roadway board of directors upon the closing of the acquisition.
Yellow Roadway Buying USF
It's official. Yellow Roadway is purchasing USF Corporation for
$1.37 billion, in a move that will likely have major consequences for the
Teamster freight division.
USF operates four major regional LTL companies: Holland, Dugan, Bestway and Reddaway. The largest, Holland, is under the NMFA. Reddaway has some union terminals in the Northwest, and the rest of
USF's operations are non-union.
Yellow Roadway already owns New Penn, a profitable regional carrier in the Northeast, an area that USF lacks due to the closing of Red Star. New Penn is under the NMFA.
The move will combine three of the four largest unionized LTL companies, and bring to the forefront the issue of unionizing the other USF carriers. The IBT had a major organizing drive at USF Dugan, until a disastrous strike in May 2004 at USF RedStar led to its closure. The failure of the IBT to respond to the company's anti-union
move undermined the drive, but it does continue at a reduced pace.
USF also has a truckload division, and a logistics division that operates distribution systems. Chicago Local 705 attempted a union drive at USF Distribution a few years ago.
Bringing the non-union USF divisions into Yellow-Roadway, which is heavily unionized, may give us an edge in making the company wall-to-wall Teamster. Making that happen has to be an IBT priority.
In a conference call with investors, CEO Bill Zollars said that it was too soon to comment on what the implications would be for the National Master Freight Agreement.
In a statement released today, the IBT said that General President Hoffa and Freight Division Director Tyson Johnson would be meeting with CEO's of both Yellow-Roadway and USF.
Wal-Mart Wants Truckers to Have 16 Hour Workdays
WASHINGTON (March 9) - Wal-Mart and other retailers are lobbying Congress to extend the workday for truckers to 16 hours, something labor unions and safety advocates say would make roadways more dangerous for all drivers.
Rep. John Boozman, an Arkansas Republican whose district includes Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s headquarters in Bentonville, is sponsoring a bill that would allow a 16-hour workday as long as the trucker took an unpaid two-hour break. The proposal is expected to be offered as an amendment during debate over the highway spending bill on Wednesday.
"Truckers are pushing harder than ever to make their runs within the mandated timeframe,'' Boozman said. "Optional rest breaks will reduce driver layovers and improve both safety and efficiency.''
Current rules limit drivers' workdays to 14 hours, with only 11 consecutive hours of driving allowed, union leaders and safety advocates say. That gives truckers three hours to eat, rest or load and unload their trucks.
Critics of the proposal accuse Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, of trying to fatten its profits by forcing truckers to spend more time waiting at the loading dock without getting paid.
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters "hasn't gotten one complaint from drivers saying they don't have time for a break or a meal,'' the union's vice president, John Murphy, said at a news conference Tuesday.
Joan Claybrook, president of the safety advocacy group Public Citizen, said drivers could end up starting their workday at 8 a.m. and quitting at midnight.
"This is a sweatshop-on-wheels amendment,'' Claybrook said. "The last thing we need is for tired truckers to become even more fatigued and threaten the safety of those around them on the roads.''
The current rule had been struck down in federal court because it didn't take into account truck drivers' health. In October, Congress reinstated the rule for one year. If the Boozman proposal is adopted, it would retain the 16-hour workday regardless of any new rule.
Nearly 5,000 people were killed in large truck crashes in 2003, and those vehicles were three times more likely to be involved in fatal crashes than passenger cars, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.
Wal-Mart spokesman Erik Winborn said the proposal has broad support among the trucking industry and other retailers.
"We support it because we feel it would actually enhance safety rather than hurt safety,'' said Winborn, whose company employs about 7,000 truck drivers.
Wal-Mart employees were Boozman's top contributors in 2003-04, giving him $48,152 for his re-election campaign, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Wal-Mart and its employees gave $44,500 to Boozman for his first successful bid for Congress in 2001-02, the last year corporations could give to congressional candidates.
What is your local or IBT doing to protect your health and safety, nothing, or is this just another sell out like your pension plan. Think about it do you need your local to sit around and do nothing or to send petitions out !
Teamsters take issue with DHL in Maine
The National Labour Relations Board (NLRB) has been negotiating with Rydbom Express in an attempt to finalise the charge filed by Teamsters Local 340 on behalf of 23 DHL workers that were locked out after voting for union representation. The NLRB has agreed to issue a complaint if the talks do not result in a satisfactory settlement of this case.
(6/13/2005)
In January this year, DHL severed its contract with Black Bear Courier, just two days after the federal government certified the workers’ union, Teamsters Local 340. The contract was subsequently picked up by Rydbom Express, who did not re-hire the Teamsters members.
The Teamsters say such anti-union actions are illegal, although DHL claims their decision had nothing to do with the union.
According to Jim Carson, president of Teamsters Local 340, the union is seeking a settlement that would return members to their jobs with full back pay plus interest. The settlement should also include the reinstatement of other benefits in place at the time the employees were locked out of their jobs and an order that would require Rydbom to bargain in good faith to secure a first contract with the Teamsters.
“This complaint and settlement would represent the first victory that the Teamsters have secured in our national organising campaign with DHL,” said Carson. “It would be a major step forward in exposing the growing practice that DHL has adopted to deny workers their fundamental right to seek union representation.”
He added that the locked-out members are eager to return to work, and expressed his thanks to the community, the Legislature, the AFL-CIO, the Bangor Central Labour Council, the Democratic Party, the Maine Department of Labour, State Senator Elizabeth M. Schneider (District 30), and Gov. John Baldacci, who, along with these other groups, championed the cause of the Teamsters members.
Double Blow to Hoffa in Teamster Election
Successful Petition Drive Accredits Tom Leedham as Candidate On Same Day, Hoffa 'Unity' Slate Cracks; VPs Bolt from Hoffa Slate
James Hoffa's reelection bid for the presidency of the 1.4 million member Teamsters Union got a double blow today when his rival Tom Leedham delivered more than 55,000 signatures to officially accredit his candidacy on the same day that Hoffa's 'Unity' slate broke apart into competing factions.
Tyson Johnson, a Hoffa Vice President and the director of the powerful Teamster Freight Division announced his candidacy for Teamster President in a letter to Hoffa today. Johnson is reportedly joined by other Teamster Vice Presidents who are leaving the Hoffa slate. The Johnson faction's breakaway is a damaging and embarrassing setback for Hoffa whose campaign is already hobbled by his declining popularity among Teamster members due to the pension benefit cuts, weak contracts, shrinking Teamster membership and corruption scandals that
have marred his presidency.
"It's increasingly clear to Teamster members and officers alike that our union needs a different direction to stop the decline of Teamster power under Hoffa," Leedham said. "We'll be looking for common ground with all anti-Hoffa forces as we continue our campaign to rebuild Teamster power, win strong contracts and good pensions, and organize the unorganized."
The breakup of Hoffa's Unity Slate scrambles Teamster politics as the union enters the 2006 election year with balloting for International Union officers coming next November. In past elections, Hoffa has depended on the united support of most Teamster officials to deliver the vote. Now that unity is fractured. The Leedham campaign is built on a grassroots network of reform-minded members and officers.
For now, Leedham is the only opposition candidate for Teamster president who will be officially accredited by the petition process whose deadline is tomorrow. Only accredited candidates have the right to appear in the Teamster Magazine campaign pages and receive a copy of the union membership list which is vital to communicating with the union's 1.4 million members in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.
The Leedham Campaign collected more than 55,000 signatures in a record four weeks- far more than the 35,802 signatures required by the election rules to officially accredit his Strong Contracts, Good Pensions Slate. While Hoffa and his running mate Tom Keegel are already accredited, the petition drive for the rest of their slate is jeopardized by the Johnson-led breakaway effort that broke off other slate members. Johnson is not an accredited candidate and cannot become one for more than six months. He will have to wait for the Teamster Convention to be held in June 2006.
