Automotive, Industrial and Allied Workers
www.teeaammsstteerrs4s49955.oorrgg Robert M. Lennox, Secretary-Treasurer Spring 2010
Kevin Barrus Joins Local 495 Boot Camp Kicks Off as Business Agent Organizing Drive Pages 3-5 Pages 6 & 7 WWL at the Port of Local 495 Wins Los Angeles Ratifi es New Arbitration Five-year Agreement Victory Pages 10 & 11 Pages 8 & 9 Local Wins Arbitration Victory: Job and Back Pay for Long-time Member
hen 23-year Ryder grateful for union representation mechanic and Local and the support of his co-workers. 495 Shop Steward “When the union, the stewards and Mark Matelko was suddenly fi red the rank-and-fi le stick together, we last June after a stellar work record, are certain to win and improve our the union knew the termination working conditions and lives,” he was baseless. declared. “Th e company erred in their “Th is process took some time, judgment. What they did was but we weren’t going to give up,” unjustifi ed and we’re fortunate that Park stated. “We had a loyal and the arbitrator agreed,” Local 495 dedicated group of employees who Business Agent George Park said. stood up and acted like Teamster “We thought we would prevail all members. Th e way the guys stood Mark Matelko (Technician), 23 years along, and we did.” by him was impressive.” In February, an arbitrator ruled “It was kind of sad that said, adding, “Th is happened to that there wasn’t a suffi cient case to I couldn’t go back to work at me but let it be an example to fi re Matelko, and ordered that the Riverside. We went through it non-union employees. If you’re not company make him whole. After together and for me not to be able represented by a union, you’re really eight months off the job, Matelko to return there was hard,” Matelko in trouble.” returned to work at the Ryder Rancho Cucamonga location in March, and will receive full back pay and reimbursement for his COBRA payments. “I’m thankful to the Local and the union lawyer for protecting my rights,” Matelko emphasized. “I really appreciate all the eff orts of Pat Spangler, the steward at Riverside, and the union leadership – George Park, Rigo Tirado and Bob Lennox – for putting their heads together.” Th e Menifee resident admits the time off was stressful but he’s Local 495 members at Ryder show their support.
Page 10 Bruce Pinheiro (Mechanic) 29 years Dale Kirkpatrick (Location Shop Steward for Rancho Cucamonga)
Pat Spangler (Shop Steward) 32 years Pete Aguayo (Parts Dept.) 32 years
Steve Crankshaw (Technician) 31 years Ryder
Jeff Heimer (Technician) 23 years Richard Ortiz (Mechanic) 25 years
Page 11 PRESORT STD TEAMSTERS LOCAL 495 U.S. POSTAGE 800 S. Barranca Ave., Suite 320 Covina, CA 91723 PAID Los Angeles, CA Permit No. 34694 Visitt YoYourur UUnUnionn WeWeb SSite:ite: www.teamsters495.orgwww.teamww.teww.teteamm teere s44995.o9 .oorrg
See Page 8 for story about WWL Ratifi cation of New Contract and more pictures!
Page 1212 A Mess age to the Membe rs
“Let’s recognize this great achievement in social policy as a worthy companion to the civil rights laws that were similarly diffi cult to achieve.” Robert M. Lennox Secretary-Treasurer, Local 495
merica’s health care landscape was the start, and they are now using the Republican changed forever recently when President Party as their mouthpiece. Large corporations wanted Barack Obama signed into law the “employee only” health care. Th ey don’t care about the Health Care Reform Act. families of their employees, and “employee only” plans In what is widely considered to be one of the most would have saved them billions of dollars. signifi cant historic moments in our country’s last few In the coming months, when the Republican Party decades, Congress has fi nally recognized the need is attacking this legislation, you must remember that to make sure all Americans have adequate medical this bill is only the beginning of health care reform. protection. Until now, the United States was the Over the coming years, it is going to be refi ned and only industrialized nation not providing health care improved as we learn what works and what doesn’t. coverage for all citizens. As Teamster members, your contracts This is a major victory, one that benefi ts all already guarantee that you have quality Americans, and shouldn’t be thought of as a benefi ts, so you may feel like you aren’t win only for Democrats. affected. In the bigger picture, however, you Unfortunately, however, Republican politicians most certainly are. seem intent on doing everything they can to undercut Not only will your non-union family and friends the Obama administration. Th ey are going to use be able to receive coverage, but the increased market this as the centerpiece for the upcoming mid-term competition will also result in a reduction in premiums elections, using any fl aws they can fi nd to their for everyone. advantage. Let’s recognize this great achievement in social You may be wondering why anyone would want policy as a worthy companion to the civil rights laws to tear down something as important as health care that were similarly diffi cult to achieve. reform, especially when it was needed so badly. Let’s face it, the business community was against this from As working people we know how hard it is to make progress and make it meaningful for all.
Page 2 n January, 31-year Hertz off -airport locations, some Teamster member Penske and Ryder truck leasing and longstanding sites, UPS, 7-Up and Firestone. Hertz Shop Steward Kevin Barrus Among Barrus’ many strong joined the Local 495 staff as a points, he brings a fi rst-hand Business Agent. perspective to representing Kevin Barrus, Local 495 Business Agent “I’m so grateful to Local 495 members. “I know the issues for giving me this opportunity,” and concerns facing my peers on had two children. “I had a good Barrus said recently. “My fellow the shop fl oor. I spent 31 years paying job and the security of the business agents and the staff have in the rental car business, 26 of Teamsters,” he pointed out. welcomed me with open arms and those years as a mechanic and “Th e union has been my you can’t imagine how much help technician.” security blanket and has helped they’ve been.” Born in Idaho but raised in reduce my stress level throughout Barrus is representing the Southern California, Barrus started my life. It made me sleep easier roughly 300 members at the working at Hertz two weeks after at night. I always knew I would Burbank car rental locations – graduating from high school. be treated fairly on the job, paid Hertz, Avis/Budget and National/ “It was a great paying job for an decently, and I knew if something Alamo – as well as members at 18-year-old.” He later married and CONTINUED on next page
Bobbye Gipson (28 years) Shop Steward Group Hertz Service Attendants
Page 3 Sheridan Khan-Administrator (5 years) Rosie Quezada (13 years) Norma Chen (26 years) and Joe Fernandez (5 years)
CONTINUED from previous page were to happen, I always had people looking out for my best interests.” Th e active and passionate union member had an Miguel Tapia (16 years) Jose Sanchez (11 years) opportunity to meet the top Teamster leadership in February. “One of my biggest thrills since taking the new job was meeting President James P. Hoff a in February at the Teamsters Convention,” he proudly said. Outside of the shop, Manuel Perez (14 years) — Budget Bus Driver Walt Burlic (30 years) and Barrus was very involved Rick Tavalacci (27 years) — Maintenance for years coaching and offi ciating high school sports, particularly football, basketball, baseball and softball. He enjoys playing golf, and being outdoors hunting, fi shing, camping and riding quads. He’s given up high school sports and has focused all of Angel Cantuna (27 years) — Shop Steward- Jorge Avila (30 years) his attention on Local 495 members. “My goals and expectations for myself are to carry on the Teamster way and to make sure members are treated the way they should be, and that they reap the benefi ts of all of their hard work,” he added. Julio Euson (10 years) — Greeter Kitty Lynn (31 years)
Page 4 Igor Kodzic — Budget Service Rep
Eduardo Gasca (5 years) — Maintenance Hertz Shuttle Drivers
Gustavo Garcia, Carlos Avila, Mario Cueva, Mark Brown, Don Marzullo-Avis Service Rep Gus Moran (26 years) Angel Cantuna (Shop Steward) — Hertz Service Attendent
Joy Stewart (5 years), Josie Morales (9 years), Leticia Saldaña (5 years) — Hertz Attendents
Alice Garcia (20 years), Radu Marinescu (15 years), Chris Polydoros (25 years) Bill Espinoza (13 years)-Bobbye Gipson (28 years)-Jose Sanchez (11 years)
Page 5 In mid-April, Local 495 offi cials, Business Agents and a dozen members attended a comprehensive Organizing Boot Camp hosted by Joint Council 42. The day-long seminar included a variety of speakers from the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, including General President James P. Hoffa.
“T he seminar was both informational and motivational,” noted Local 495 Business Rivera was assigned to head up the Local’s Agent and Organizing Director Gene Rivera. organizing department at the beginning of the year, and stresses that in order for the Local to “We are working in conjunction with the grow, the union is looking to the membership for Joint Council, which is providing the Local with leads. assistance and guidance in our organizing eff orts. “We need for the membership to keep us Th e boot camp was the kick-off for a well informed of family members and friends who are planned, coordinated endeavor because we know working for non-union companies and those in a collective eff ort will be most successful.” need of representation,” he explained.
Local 495 members attended a comprehensive Organizing Boot Camp hosted by Joint Council 42
Page 6 IBT Boot Camp Recruits (Left to Right) George Park, IBT V.P. Rick Middleton, Kevin Barrus, President Rigo Tirado, Roman Delgado, IBT General President Jim Hoffa,Vons Steward J.P. Hernandez, Jim Lennox, Gene Rivera and Secreatary-Treasurer Bob Lennox
“We would like for those employees to have the same benefi ts our members have enjoyed If you’re interested in for years.” volunteering or if you have any Additionally, the Local is recruiting volunteer questions or leads on organizers. Currently, roughly 12 members have committed to donating time to the Local’s non-union worksites, members organizing eff orts. “Once an organizing campaign are encouraged to contact begins, members are called upon to assist with job Gene Rivera at the Local. site rallies, phone banking and house calls,” he added.
Page 7 WWL Ratifi cation
In late April, members at WWL (Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics) at the Port of Los Angeles overwhelmingly ratifi ed a new fi ve-year agreement with the global company.
“I think it’s a fantastic of the contract include critical contract,” 20-year member language changes to overtime and and Chief Shop Steward grievance procedures. Th ese are Gilbert Rios said. “We got key areas of importance to the 150 members covered under the a long-term agreement with agreement. full medical and an above Th e contract also allocates a average wage increase. The wage increase every year. “Th is is way the economy has been, the fi rst time we got a raise in the this is very good.” fi rst year of the agreement,” 17-year for decades in a variety of key employee and longstanding Shop positions: allocation, delivery zone, Th e number one priority going Steward Orlando Hendrix noted. yard services, rail, accessories, into negotiations was maintaining “If you consider the times and the quality control, surveying, vehicle health and welfare benefi ts, way things are economically with maintenance, parts, car wash/detail Local 495 Business Agent Gene so many people out of work, this is and buff , and facility maintenance. Rivera pointed out. “Unlike other more than a fair contract with the non-union locations where the In addition to Rivera, Rios and health and welfare benefi ts, a raise employee is paying $400 or $500 a Hendrix, the contract negotiating every year, and no takeaways.” month for health care, this is huge.” committee included Local 495 WWL specializes in moving Secretary-Treasurer Bob Lennox, Th e company agreed to full fi nished vehicles from production President Rigo Tirado, and fi ve maintenance of benefi ts with no to the dealerships. Local 495 rank-and-fi le members. cost to the member for each year has represented WWL members of the agreement. Other highlights “Th e Local 495 leadership did – who process Nissan cars – an excellent job, especially Bob Lennox. Just when you think that’s all there is, he comes up with more magic. When everyone is exhausted, he’s still pounding on management trying to get that last dime from them,” Hendrix said. “A lot of members don’t understand how hard our leadership fi ghts.” “I really want to thank the rank-and-fi le members who were on the negotiating team. Th ey made some tough decisions for the membership and recommended that the contract be ratifi ed 100 percent,” Rivera added.
Page 8 MORE PICTURES on back page!
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