INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF TEAMSTERS JULY/AUGUST 2009
TEAMSTERwww.teamster.org
Organizing FedEx Teamsters Gear Up To Deliver Victory To FedEx Workers IN THIS ISSUE 2 TEAMSTER NEWS
• Teamsters Trained To Protect Against Terrorism • Airline Division Saves United Airlines Jobs Organizing FedEx • U.S. Foodservice Victory Teamsters Gear Up To Deliver Victory • Teamsters End Stalemate To FedEx Workers In Buffalo • Infrastructure Gains To Benefi t Rail Teamsters Hope On The Horizon • Local 237 Political Mechanics And Related At Horizon Forum A Success Air Join Teamsters 14 • Teamster Leader Plays Himself In Film “Milk” Maximum Security 3,200 Cook County Corrections 20 ORGANIZING Offi cers Join Local 714 • Waste Workers Join Local 311 • Local 997 Welcomes Pension Tension Bakery Workers Is A Comfortable Retirement A Thing • Donut Delivery Drivers Of The Past? Join Local 25 • Walden Police Choose Teamsters Horse Sense • Alabama Truckers Carriage Drivers Get In Touch Join Local 402 With Their Roots 16 30 COURT MATERIALS
22 United And Determined TEAMSTER 2009 Unity Conference Focuses On Organizing, Political Victories www.teamster.org
International Brotherhood of Teamsters 25 Louisiana Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20001-2198 202-624-6800
The Teamster (ISSN 1083-2394) is the official publica- tion of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, 25 Louisiana Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20001-2198. It is published six times a year in January/February, March/April, May/June, July/August, September/ October, November/December. Periodical postage paid at Washington, DC and at additional mailing offices. JULY/AUGUST 2009 / VOLUME 106, NO. 4 © 2009 International Brotherhood of Teamsters. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without writ- ten permission is prohibited. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Teamster, Affi liates Records Department, 25 Louisiana Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20001-2198. Subscription rates: $12 per year. Single copies, $2. (All or- ders payable in advance.) Members should send address changes to their local union. Delivering Fairness a message from G eneral President james p. h o f f a
orporate lobbyists have a time- he said. The bill passed anyway. honored trick of slipping a few It is well past time to right that wrong. words into major legislation just Fortunately, Congress now seems inclined before Congress adjourns. Twelve to restore fairness to the freight and package years ago, a few last-minute words delivery industry. The House recently voted strengthened FedEx’s hand against overwhelmingly to apply one set of rules to unions. all express delivery companies. The Teamsters In October 1996, senators were Union urges the Senate do the same so FedEx rushing to adjourn so they could campaign for Express will have to treat non-airline workers Coffice back home. But first they had to finish a the same way all of its competitors do – under bill that funded airports – something they all the National Labor Relations Act. wanted to pass. Just before the Senate recessed, FedEx lobbyists managed to add the words Do the Right Thing “express carrier” back into the bill. That meant FedEx Express’s exemption from the law that that FedEx Express’s labor relations for all governs its competitors is absurd. Today, a employees would be governed by the Railway whole slew of FedEx workers who never so Labor Act, which is meant to cover railroads much as touch an airplane are forced to orga- and airlines. Non-airline employees working nize under a law designed for airline and rail- for competitors of FedEx Express were gov- road workers. It is also unfair. FedEx Express erned by the other set of rules under which package car drivers, tractor trailer drivers, workers can form unions – the National Labor loaders, unloaders, sorters and truck mechan- Relations Act. ics have an uphill battle to join a union. The workers who perform the exact same tasks Anti-Union Ideology at FedEx’s competitors do not face the same Under the Railway Labor Act, workers can legal obstacles. only form national bargaining units. Under FedEx’s chief spokesman has even threat- the National Labor Relations Act, workers ened to “destroy” anyone who gets in the can form bargaining units at individual com- company’s way on this legislation. The com- pany locations. It is much, much harder for pany is gearing up to launch a multi-million workers at a company like FedEx Express to dollar ad campaign to get its way. The Senate organize under the Railway Labor Act. Sen. should resist the blandishments of FedEx lob- Edward M. Kennedy recognized the injustice byists and do the right thing for all workers in and took to the Senate floor. “Federal Express the freight and package delivery industry. is notorious for its anti-union ideology, but there is no justification for Congress becom- ing an accomplice in its union-busting tactic,” TEAMSTER NEWS
First Observers Teamsters Trained to Protect Our Nation Against Terrorism
eamsters are now serving As of late May, members 200 more members will receive “As Teamsters, we are the in a program authorized of Local 771 in Lancaster, the training at the Joint Coun- leaders in the community,” Tby Congress to help Pennsylvania and Local 667 cil 42 meeting in July. said Gary Murley, a 19-year strengthen our nation’s critical in Memphis were trained as member of Local 667 who is infrastructure against potential part of an initial field testing. Big Goals a road driver at YRC World- risks from terrorist attacks. The union’s General Execu- “We hope to train as many wide Inc.’s Yellow-Roadway. The First Observer program tive Board was briefed on the eligible Teamsters as we can, Murley recently took the is intended to protect our new program during the 2009 and those would be members course. “Every time we have nation’s transportation systems Unity Conference. At Unity, who drive trucks, work as toll an opportunity to step up and where Teamsters work every members, as well as three collectors or spend time along help the community, we need day. The U.S. Department of International Vice Presidents, the nation’s highways and to do that. We’re the first to see Homeland Security’s Trans- received the updated one-hour roads,” said Mark Johnson, the things out of the ordinary.” portation Security Administra- training. Teamsters National Training First Observer training was tion awarded a First Observer At the request of Interna- Director. “Our members cover developed by the Teamsters in grant to a consortium of con- tional Vice President Jim San- millions of miles each week partnership with Total Security tractors including the Team- tangelo, 500 members of Local and they play a valuable role in Services International Inc., sters Union. 848 will be trained in June and keeping our country safer.” which has special expertise in Under the program, vulnerability and threat Teamsters are trained to spot assessment, security plan- unusual behavior and how ning, anti-terrorism plan- to report suspicious activity ning and training to safe- through proper channels. guard America’s public and Membership feedback on private institutions. the training will be used to “I commend our Team- ensure training meets the ster First Observer team,” needs of all Teamsters and said Tom Keegel, Teamsters other transportation pro- General Secretary-Trea- fessionals. Members who surer. “We are committed complete the training will to protecting our country be registered as a Teamster first and then our national First Observer in the national infrastructure, which is so database for future security critical in protecting our notices and feedback. members’ jobs.”
GENERAL EXECUTIVE BOARD
James P. Hoffa VICE PRESIDENTS Fredrick P. Potter Jr. TEAMSTERS CANADA CENTRAL REGION EASTERN REGION SOUTHERN REGION TRUSTEES General President AT-LARGE 3400 Highway 35 Robert Bouvier John T. Coli Jack Cipriani Tyson Johnson Ferline Buie 25 Louisiana Ave. N.W. Randy Cammack Executive Plaza, Suite 7 President 5940 W. Montrose Ave. P.O. Box 35405 1007 Jonelle Street 2120 Bladensburg Washington, D.C. 20001 845 Oak Park Road Hazlet, NJ 07730 Teamsters Canada Chicago, IL 60634 Greensboro, NC 27425 Dallas, TX 75217 Rd. N.E. Covina, CA 91724 2540 Daniel Johnson Washington, D.C. 20018 C. Thomas Keegel Fred Simpson Suite 804 Patrick W. Flynn William Hamilton Ken Wood General Secretary- Fred Gegare 20300 Civic Center Dr. Laval, Quebec 4217 South Halsted St. 2845 Southampton Rd. 5818 E. MLK Jr. Blvd. Frank Gallegos Treasurer 1546 Main Street Suite 320 Canada H7T 2S3 Chicago, IL 60609 Philadelphia, PA 19154 Tampa, FL 33619 207 North Sanborn Rd. 25 Louisiana Ave. N.W. Green Bay, WI 54302 Southfield, MI Salinas, CA 93905 Washington, D.C. 20001 48076-4169 Tom Fraser Walter A. Lytle Daniel J. Kane Sr. WESTERN REGION Ken Hall 1890 Meyerside Drive 2644 Cass Street 1308 Pierce Street Rome A. Aloise Henry B. Perry Jr. 267 Staunton Ave. S.W. George Tedeschi Mississauga, Ontario Fort Wayne, IN 46808 Rahway, NJ 07065 2100 Merced St. 976 E. Brooks Ave. South Charleston, WV 25 Louisiana Ave. N.W. Canada L5T 1B4 San Leandro, CA 94577 Memphis, TN 38116 25303 Washington, D.C. 20001 Brad Slawson Sr. John Murphy Don McGill 9422 Ulysses St. N.E. 348 D Street J. Allen Hobart Carroll E. Haynes 490 E. Broadway Suite 120 Boston, MA 02127 14675 Interurban 50 Calhoun Avenue Vancouver, B.C. Blaine, MN 55434 Ave. S. New Rochelle, NY Canada V5T 1X3 Suite 301 10801 Gordon Sweeton Tukwila, WA 98168 1601 Maiden Lane Joplin, MO 64802 Jim Santangelo 818 S. Oak Park Road 2 TEAMSTER | july/august 2009 | www.teamster.org Covina, CA 91724 Against All Odds Airline Division Saves Nearly 100 Jobs Despite Inherited Weak Contract
hen United Airlines by Griswold, took a proac- tions, we had to think outside Although some jobs will issued request for tive stance to the situation of the box. We looked at cre- be lost, many throughout the Wproposals (RFPs) for by forming a Ground Sup- ative ways to be more efficient.” Airline Division are calling ground support and building port/Building Maintenance Among other things, the United’s decision a victory. maintenance work earlier this Committee. That committee union discussed using cross- “In the face of the econom- year, members of the Team- met with management at utilization, or combining ic climate and absence of con- sters Airline Division took a United Airlines to discuss what skill sets, to make work more tractual language, I think the deep breath. options the union had to save cost-effective. Though the idea Teamsters prevailed; we forged RFPs generally mean one jobs from outsourcing. is still relatively new to the ahead for the greater good,” thing: outsourcing. And because The committee, comprised airline industry, it is currently Stewart said. “I want to be very the RFPs were issued for nine of rank-and-file members, being used at stations in Cali- sober about the fact that we airport locations including shop stewards, business agents fornia and has shown positive did lose two locations, but in LaGuardia, JFK, Boston, New- and other airline representa- results. the end, I think the Teamsters ark, Philadelphia, Portland, tives, met with United Airlines made the right choice. If we Seattle, San Diego and Hono- officials in February and April Hard Work Pays Off had not taken any action, those lulu, Teamster airline officials to hash out a plan. The hard work and brain nine cities would have shut had reason for concern. “During those meetings, power of the Ground Sup- down and all jobs would have “When you say RFP, you’re the company and the union port/Building Maintenance been lost.” usually saying RIP: rest in took a look at innovative ways Committee paid off. In April, peace,” said Phillip Stewart, of keeping stations open. We United Airlines announced a ground support/building crunched a lot of numbers,” that it would keep open seven For the rest of the story, visit maintenance shop steward and Griswold said. “Due to the of the nine stations it originally TeamsterMagazine.com/ member of South El Monte, fact that we had no contract planned to close, resulting in against-all-odds. California’s Local 986. language protecting these posi- nearly 90 jobs saved. To make matters worse, the Teamsters inherited a weak contract from AMFA, the pre- vious union that represented United Airlines mechanics and related employees. The con- tract contained no language protecting ground support and building maintenance work from being outsourced. “We assumed a contract that had a lot of holes in it,” said Clacy Griswold, a Team- sters Airline Division represen- tative. “With no contract lan- guage to protect these jobs, we knew we were in a tight spot.”
Proactive Stance Rather than sit back and watch jobs—more than 100 in all—be outsourced, members from the Airline Division, led
www.teamster.org | july/august 2 0 0 9 | TEAMSTER TEAMSTER NEWS
U.S. Foodservice Victory Employees Win Representation After Year-Long Fight
bout 250 U.S. Foodser- ing tactics that included threats vice workers in Arizona and intimidation from man- Ahave some celebrating agement, captive audience to do. meetings and, in some cases, That’s because after a termination of employees who year-long battle, 250 workers took a pro-union stance. at a facility in Phoenix have Behavior by U.S. Foodser- won Teamster representation vice was so egregious that the thanks to a settlement handed NLRB issued almost 200 labor down by the National Labor complaints against the company tantly, we have finally gained Although Proctor now Relations Board. throughout the course the dignity and respect we has the union representation The settlement, announced of the campaign, including a deserve.” he and many of his cowork- on May 18, 2009, includes Gissel bargaining order—a ers fought so desperately to recognition for all workers in court mandate forcing a com- Negotiations achieve, he and others plan the bargaining unit, as well as pany to bargain with a union. Negotiations for a first con- on keeping a promise that reinstatement and back pay That order led to the May 18 tract with U.S. Foodservice are they aren’t going to stop with for employees who were ter- settlement. expected to commence shortly. U.S. Foodservice in Arizona. minated during the organizing “This is a huge victory for “We look forward to going The warehouse workers have campaign. the employees at U.S Foodser- to the bargaining table to estab- vowed to help other U.S. Food- The campaign to form a vice who fought so long and lish a just and long-term rela- service employees organize. union was a grassroots effort hard to form a union,” said tionship with the U.S. Food- “The goal is to implement that started when workers at Ryan Proctor, a U.S. Foodser- service Arizona Division. I am a national agreement,” Proc- the facility faced favoritism vice employee and proud new confident that we will reach an tor said. “We won’t stop with and job insecurity. Teamster. “Now we will have agreement that will be good just one contract. No worker During the campaign, the the opportunity to negotiate for both the employees and the deserves to be treated the way company launched a massive a contract for better working company,” said John Williams, we were treated.” anti-union effort, implement- conditions, but most impor- Warehouse Division Director.
Candidates On Call ★★★★★ Local 2 Holds Political Forum for Members ★★★★★ or public employees, there is nothing more critical than participation in the political process. that’s why local 237, which represents approximately 30,000 public employees and retirees in New york City, put on their first political forum recently. F On april 18 at the Hilton New york Hotel, more than 500 teamsters took part in local 237’s forum. With news crews in tow, the event provided an intimate preview of candidates running for New york City mayor, comptroller and public advocate. “We came here because we care about this city,” said gregory Floyd, President of New york City’s local 237, in his welcom- ing remarks. “as the largest teamster local in the nation, it is our obligation to lead.” Floyd told the audience that the local’s voting muscle is flexed for city elections in November, For the full story, visit when the union will again work tirelessly to elect worker-friendly candidates. www.local2.org local 237 will continue to host political forums in the Big apple as November elections approach.
4 TEAMSTER | july/august 2009 | www.teamster.org Tree Of Life Teamsters Specialty Food Distribution Workers Join Local 952
orkers at tree of life, a specialty foods distribution cen- tral in los angeles, recently voted to join the teamsters Wunion. the 69 workers are now members of local 952 in Orange, California. “I think the biggest thing this victory shows is the perseverance of this work group,” said Patrick Kelly, local 952 secretary-trea- surer. “this group has never been union before and they worked hard over the last five years to gain representation.” tree of life employees say the primary reason they sought union representation was for greater respect on the job site. they are also seeking job security and fair compensation. “the issue of job security definitely put our work group over the top,” said Frank Borba, a tree of life employee. “Nobody can afford to lose their job, especially in this economy. We sought teamster representation because of the reputation the teamsters have to gain respect and to negotiate strong contracts with job-protection language.”
Community Support sure that the top executives run- Teamsters End The Teamsters and Rural/ ning the company were made Metro, with the help of a federal aware of their frustration with Stalemate In Buffalo mediator, reached the tentative Buffalo management’s reluc- Teamsters Come to the Aid of Rural/Metro agreement on April 27, 2009. That tance to reach a new agreement was the first time the two sides with improved wages. EMTs and Paramedics had met since November 2008. Rallies were held every Fri- The campaign to secure a day at various hospitals in and fair contract kicked into gear in around Buffalo and local leaders umerous rallies, politi- Local 375, thanked the workers December, when Buffalo Team- met with Buffalo Mayor Byron cal pressure and com- for their hard work in building sters attended Rural/Metro’s Brown to voice their concerns, Nmunity support all were Teamster power that enabled annual shareholders meeting in said Tony Vaccaro, Recording instrumental in helping Local the bargaining committee to Scottsdale, Arizona to directly Secretary for Local 375. The 375 in Buffalo, New York reach leverage an improved wage address the company’s board of workers also had a lot of com- an agreement with Rural/ package. directors and executives. munity support, which helped Metro Medical Services after a “These dedicated para- Members of Local 375 made tremendously, Vaccaro added. nearly year-long stalemate. medics and EMTs are The agreement marked the heroes—they provide end of an effort to secure an daily lifesaving ser- agreement with Rural/Metro. vices to their commu- Since June 30, 2008, 400 nity,” Wach said. “They Rural/Metro paramedics and deserve to be rewarded emergency medical technicians with a great contract (EMTs) had been working with- that guarantees fair and out a contract since their five- good wages, and other year agreement had expired. A great benefits.” one-year, retroactive agreement “We value the com- was negotiated to cover this time munities we serve, we period and expires on June 30, work hard for Rural/ 2009. The second agreement is Metro,” said Don Roth, for four years and takes effect a Rural/Metro worker. July 1, 2009. “We deserve a fair con- Mike Wach, President of tract and we got one.”
www.teamster.org | july/august 2009 | TEAMSTER 5 TEAMSTER NEWS
Proud Eagle Members Ratify Contract Brewery Drivers Win Wage Increases
embers of Local 175 distributor for Budweiser and for decades, but recently the for the distributor. “Plus, none in Charleston, West Yuengling breweries in the company had been bought by of us in the unit have to spend MVirginia recently state. The beer distributor’s a nonunion entity. money on insurance co-pays. ratified a new, five-year agree- employees had been repre- “We planned on holding We weren’t sure what to think ment with Proud Eagle Inc., a sented by the Teamsters Union strong with our members’ since the new company that benefits and wages, and our bought the distributorship has negotiating committee was two other facilities, both of tough, resulting in a new con- which are nonunion.” tract with wage increases and The multi-year contract a lock on health care benefits,” includes wage increases for the said Ken Hall, International entire term—a huge selling Vice President and President of point with all members, plus Local 175. co-pays for insurance will be “At first the company asked company-paid and pension for cuts in our vacations, payments will be maxed out by but we fought back. I’m very the employer. pleased with the economic improvements in the new con- Integral Part of Success tract,” said John Larch, a mem- “I am real glad that we have ber of the negotiating team five years that everybody and a 30-year driver/salesman knows we have security,” said
of 1974, the teamsters union was locked in a battle with Coors, which was refusing to bargain with their teamster distribution Art Imitates Life workers. Baird knew that Milk, a camera shop owner on Castro Teamster Leader Plays Himself in Film “Milk” street who was running for city supervisor, had become a political force. Baird enlisted the help of Milk and asked what it would take for Milk to get the gay community to support a Coors boycott. llan Baird has lived in the Castro District of san Francisco “He told me that we had his support and he only had one his entire life. the 77-year-old retired President of local request; he wanted the teamsters to hire openly gay drivers in a921, which merged into local 853 in 2002, still lives with san Francisco,” Baird said. “I immediately agreed.” With Milk’s his wife in one of the best known gay and lesbian communities support, the boycott took hold and continued for three years, in the world. It was here that the true story behind the critically spreading across California. and the union kept its word, hiring acclaimed film gay drivers within a week after Baird and Milk made the pact. “Milk” unfolded. Baird and the teamsters union supported Milk in his run for It was a story city supervisor in 1977 when he became the first openly gay man in which Baird to be elected to public office in California. so when representa- played an integral tives from the film “Milk” contacted Baird and asked him to role, a role that he share his story with the cast, he was happy to agree. would portray on “I was invited to dinner with sean Penn, james Franco and the silver screen all the actors working on the nearly 32 years film,” Baird said. “Director gus after Harvey Milk Van sant decided after meeting For the complete story, visit made history. me that he wanted me to play TeamsterMagazine.com/ In the summer myself in the film. I was thrilled art-imitates-life. and accepted.”
6 TEAMSTER | july/august 2009 | www.teamster.org Joe Dingess, a five-year mem- Infrastructure Gains ber of the local. “I sat in on other negotiations and this For Northeast Rail went much better than we thought it might.” High-Speed Rail One Component There are 47 members in the bargaining unit. Most are ince President Obama drivers/salesman while oth- took office, the nation’s ers are merchandisers/helpers Srail system has taken on on the routes. Some drivers a much higher priority than “Our watch- have assigned routes they have in prior administrations. The men are the life- worked for years and part of current administration has guards of the rail- the contract guarantees that allocated $8 billion in stimulus road. We couldn’t those routes will stay with funds for the Amtrak system. work without our them. The funds are targeted mainly crew of watchmen “On top of wage increases toward infrastructure repair helping us,” said and good benefits, the com- and modernization—work Wes Wilkins, a pany is now maxing out their that clearly falls under the 30-year BMWED contributions to our pensions,” purview of the Brotherhood of member from said Chad Stewart, a steward Maintenance of Way Employes the Philadelphia and 16-year employee of Division (BMWED) of the area, just as yet the beer distributor. “In past Teamsters Rail Conference. another passenger years we have had three-year “The stimulus funding that train sounded its terms on the contract, but the Amtrak is receiving is over and horn and bustled employer wanted to have a five above the normally budgeted through the yard. year term. In order to for us amount for structural improve- 30 guys each day of which 20 A high-speed rail line to accept that, though, we had ments,” said Jedd Dodd, Gener- or so operate the track laying requires both a complete track the employer agree to extra al Chairman of the BMWED’s machine (TLM) while the oth- bed, but also a superior electri- pay increases. Now we are Pennsylvania Federation. We ers work as watchmen along cal source in order to power getting ready for our busy sea- are already seeing an increase the track,” said L.A. Watkins, a and guide the locomotive. This son—Memorial Day through in hiring.” 29-year BMWED member who deficiency, combined with the summer—so it’s good that all Work has already begun supervises the work of the con- age of the infrastructure itself of our guys are happy with the on part of the Northeast cor- crete tie replacement machine. (such as passenger rail tunnels new contract.” ridor near Newark, New Jersey Several blocks in length, the dating back to the Civil War) “Our new contract with where maintenance of way TLM scoops up the worn out contribute to the many bottle- Proud Eagle is further evi- crews have been positioned to ties and replaces them with new necks along the corridor. dence to our members that work on replacing the ties and ties. New concrete ties and other “The deferred maintenance we will fight for their right to track beds. The work is part upgrades will prepare the track of the rails that occurred dur- have good wages and benefits,” of the $50 million allocated bed for faster trains. ing the Bush administration is Hall said. “Even during this for concrete tie replacement in “Late last year we had been hampering the introduction of time of economic uncertainty, New England. replacing around 700 ties a day, faster, more efficient engines,” many companies continue to but now we have days when we said Fred Simpson, Internation- turn a profit and, in the case Concrete Tie Replacement hit 1,900,” Watkins said. al Vice President and BMWED of Proud Eagle, our members At the rail yard in Linden, New Keeping the tie crew alert President. “We have to get con- have been an integral part of Jersey, an active concrete tie and aware of train movement trol of our rail system so that we their success for many years. replacement crew is currently in the yard near them are their may improve it.” For the next five years, these tasked to improve the track Teamsters working as watchmen Teamsters will continue to bed of passenger rail lines that every few yards along the track. For the complete story, visit receive the wages and benefits carry Amtrak and New Jersey Armed with signs and portable TeamsterMagazine.com/ they have worked hard to Transit passengers along the air horns, the watchmen are infrastructure-improvements- achieve.” Northeast corridor. critical to the safety of the main- table-northeast-corridor. “We have a gang of about tenance crews.
www.teamster.org | july/august 2 0 0 9 | TEAMSTER Organizing FedEx Teamsters Gear Up to Deliver Victory to FedEx Workers “I heard a lot of skepticism in 2006 when we announced we were going to organize at UPS Freight. Now we have 99 percent of those workers organized. We organized at UPS Freight and we can do it here.” — Ken Hall, International Vice President and Package Division Director
rom the halls of Congress to local union halls, the Teamsters are waging an all-out effort to organize FedEx workers across all of the company’s divisions. This will be a long campaign, and Teamster mem- bers from all locals will be called upon to help. General President Jim Hoffa and International Vice President and Package Division Director Ken Hall laid out the union’s plan to organize all workers across FedEx’s many divisions at this year’s Unity Conference. “It is imperative that we organize this company both to pre- serve standards in our current contracts and to raise the standards across the package delivery and freight industries,” Hoffa said.
Past Victories Hall said he has been asked how the union can afford to take on FedEx. “My question to them is, can we really afford NOT to take on this company?” Hall said. “First and foremost, this is about those workers who work for a CEO who makes Forbes magazine’s bil- lionaire list every year and is screwing the workers by taking away their pensions, their health insurance, reducing them to part-time so he can take their benefits away. We’re going to address that.” Hall told members skeptical of the FedEx campaign to think about UPS Freight. “I heard a lot of skepticism in 2006 when we announced we were going to organize at UPS Freight,” Hall said. “Now we have 99 percent of those workers organized. We organized at UPS Freight and we can do it here.” Hall and Hoffa noted that this campaign will have battles fought in Congress and the courts, where two issues important to FedEx workers are being tackled: correcting a loophole in current federal law that would make it easier for FedEx Express workers to organize, and prohibiting FedEx from classifying its drivers as independent contractors.
www.teamster.org | july/august 2009 | TEAMSTER Why this Campaign is so Important Nuno had this message for FedEx CEO Fred Smith and other Bill Gardner was fired from his job last year as a FedEx Home Deliv- FedEx officials: “We are the Teamsters whether you like it or not. ery driver. FedEx employees Eric Herzog, Rudy Hernandez and Joe We will organize at FedEx.” Nuno all have been subjected to the company’s anti-union tactics. All are actively seeking to form a union with the Teamsters, Express Carrier Legislation although it could cost Herzog, Hernandez and Nuno their jobs. First on the legislative front, Congress is considering legislation “No one should have to go through this type of intimida- that would remove FedEx from its status as the only company of tion and bullying to form a union,” said Herzog, a senior aircraft its kind allowed to classify its package delivery workers under the maintenance technician at FedEx Express’s Los Angeles terminal. Railway Labor Act. Herzog said his benefits have been eroding from year to year. “We The measure is called the Express Carrier Employee Protec- just want a voice at the table and the chance to bargain with the tion Act, and it is currently part of the FAA reauthorization bill. company.” The U.S. House of Representatives passed the bill on May 21. A “Why does this multi-billion dollar company so strongly oppose companion bill is expected to be introduced in the Senate this year. the union?” Hernandez asked. “The answer: corporate greed.” Right now, all FedEx Express workers are under the Railway “FedEx has unfortunately fallen into the ever-so-popular Labor Act, the labor law covering workers whose work relates corporate trend of greed and carelessness which has brought the directly to aircraft operations, regardless of whether they ever middle class to its current turmoil,” Hernandez said. touch an aircraft. This means workers from all classes and crafts “We can’t give up on this fight. We are on the right side,” said must form a union nationally—a tough hurdle to get over for Gardner, a member of Local 25 in Boston. “We need the help of approximately 80,000 FedEx Express workers who are scattered all the Teamsters, for with solidarity we can defeat this enemy.” all over the country.
10 T e a m s T e r | july/august 2009 | www.teamster.org Under the proposed legislation, workers who need an FAA issue at both the state and federal levels. license to work, like mechanics, will remain under the RLA. All By misclassifying workers as independent contractors, compa- other workers (sorters, drivers, loaders, truck mechanics and nies like FedEx avoid withholding income taxes and paying Social package-delivery drivers) will be placed under the National Labor Security and Medicare taxes. Relations Act, just like at UPS. Under the NLRA, these workers This egregious practice also hurts responsible employers who can form unions locally. pay their worker-related taxes, provide basic workplace protec- Workers who remain under the RLA will still have to organize tions to employees and respect their workers’ right to join a nationally, but the Teamsters have successfully organized other union. aircraft mechanics in the past—such as United Airlines, UPS and, Workers misclassified most recently, Horizon Air. as independent contrac- “FedEx is still tors receive no protection Teamster Action on Capitol Hill for Express Carrier from workplace health and fighting us and has Currently, the Teamsters are busy meeting with members of Con- safety laws, no legal rights refused to bargain gress, writing letters and testifying at hearings on measures that to equal opportunity in the would make it easier for FedEx employees to organize. workplace, no rights to job- and even appealed Hall testified before a U.S. Senate subcommittee on May 13 protected family and medical in the federal court urging them to support the express carrier legislation. For more leave and no rights to orga- on Hall’s testimony, see the story in this issue. nize and collectively bargain. case. But I am not Hoffa and Hall praised the House for passing the bill, but said giving up my fight.” the work is not done. FedEx has vowed to fight hard to keep the Class-Action Lawsuit Former Fedex home Senate from including the express carrier legislation in the bill. Gardner is part of the first — delivery driver Bill Gardner “The Teamsters hope the U.S. Senate will throw its support group of FedEx drivers who behind the express carrier measure and pass the FAA Reauthori- successfully organized with zation bill quickly,” Hall said. “Nearly 80,000 FedEx Express work- the Teamsters. The election was certified in 2007 by the National ers remain penalized by this unfair loophole. It’s time Congress Labor Relations Board but FedEx has refused to bargain. fixed this egregious problem.” Gardner is a lead plaintiff in the national class-action law- suit against FedEx. He and other workers allege they have been Smith’s Blackmail misclassified as independent contractors instead of full-time Fred Smith, billionaire and CEO of FedEx, is so concerned about employees. This designation allows FedEx to get away without this legislation that he recently threatened to blackmail legislators providing benefits to workers and from paying taxes to local and in Congress who support the amendment. state governments. FedEx stated in one of its SEC filings that they would cancel a “FedEx is still fighting us and has refused to bargain and even $10 billion order to purchase Boeing 777 planes if FedEx workers appealed in the federal court case,” said Gardner. “But I am not were moved under the NLRA. giving up my fight.” In other words, Smith decided to play politics with American The Teamsters will also be ramping up the campaign to see jobs at Boeing, GE (the manufacturer of Boeing’s engines), and that FedEx Ground drivers are properly classified as employees the dozens of other American manufacturers who supply compo- rather than independent contractors. nents of Boeing’s planes. Currently more than 30 states have initiated investigations or proceedings against FedEx based on their flawed owner-operator Misclassification of FedEx Drivers contractor model. The Teamsters Union is working with policy- Another big issue in the FedEx campaign is how the company makers in state capitols across the country to increase worker misclassifies its ground drivers as independent contractors. The protections and stiffen penalties against companies like FedEx Teamsters Union has several of its departments working on this Ground.
www.teamster.org | july/august 2009 | TEAMSTER 11 What You Can Do As on other campaigns, such as the recent success at UPS It will take commitments from the multiple divisions and depart- Freight, UPS Teamsters will be educated and mobilized to act on ments of the International Union, all Joint Councils and local behalf of their nonunion counterparts at FedEx. In the future, unions to make this campaign a success. The Package Division is they may be asked to invite FedEx workers to their locals to attend spearheading the FedEx campaign on all fronts. meetings, leaflet at work sites and hold rallies. At Unity, Hall discussed Hoffa said FedEx workers are calling Teamster locals every day, with local leaders what seeking the same representation that UPS workers have. “I want to join members can do and noted “It is important for every local leader and Teamster members the Teamsters that while all locals would to educate themselves on this campaign,” Hoffa said. “If a FedEx be asked to play a large worker reaches out to you or your local for help, the Teamsters because we are in role, UPS Teamsters will be Union expects you to help them.” the struggle of our asked to do even more. Out of the gate, this Never Giving Up lives to preserve our campaign will be tasking Gardner, Herzog, Hernandez and Nuno spoke at Unity about middle-class quality UPS Teamsters and other their determination to become Teamsters. The ranks of FedEx supporters to get involved workers brave enough to join them is growing larger every day, of life that we have in political actions that will even though it has meant anti-union intimidation and the pos- worked so hard for.” impact the union’s very sible loss of their jobs. ability to organize the many Why would they stick their necks out? Herzog put it this way: — FedEx employee Eric Herzog different kinds of FedEx “I don’t know what the future holds but it worries me how every workers who need a union. year our benefits are deteriorating while our company continues “Only FedEx pilots are unionized—so only 2 percent of that to prosper and grow. company’s 200,000 employees in the U.S. are working under a “I want to join the Teamsters because we are in the struggle of contract,” Hall said. “This makes going to the bargaining table our lives to preserve our middle-class quality of life that we have with unionized companies such as UPS much more challenging.” worked so hard for,” Herzog said.
12 T e a m s T e r | july/august 2009 | www.teamster.org Ken Hall Testifies Before Congress on Express Carrier, Outsourcing Measures
Union Urges Congress to Private sector labor-management they never touch an airplane. Keep Both Measures in relations in the U.S. are governed by two “Employees performing the same FAA Reauthorization Bill laws: the Railway Labor Act (RLA) and the work, employed by companies that pro- National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). The vide the same services, should have the express carrier legislation restores the same right to decide whether to form or original intent of the RLA by stipulating that join a union,” Hall testified. ackage Division Director Ken Hall employees of an express carrier are cov- Hall also urged Congress to address Ptestified before a U.S. Senate sub- ered by the RLA only if their work relates the dangerous trend of outsourcing heavy committee on May 13 urging them to directly to aircraft operations. Employees aircraft maintenance on American com- support two key pieces of legislation whose jobs don’t involve aircraft opera- mercial aircraft to foreign repair stations. currently part of the FAA Reauthorization tions are covered under the NLRA. Noting that the practice “has eroded Bill, H.R. 915. Hall stressed the impor- passenger safety, increased homeland tance of the Express Carrier Employee Fair and Reasonable security risk and decimated a skilled Protection Act and creating a single Hall testified that the loophole in the cur- workforce of American aircraft mechan- regulatory standard when it comes to rent law means the majority of FedEx ics,” Hall outlined the Teamsters’ strong aircraft maintenance outsourcing. Express employees are deprived of the support of specific safety measures “These two areas are of concern to right to secure union representation in included in the FAA Reauthorization bill. Teamsters and the American public,” Hall the same manner as their counterparts These include putting an end to non- said in his testimony before the Senate at other delivery companies. “The Team- certified stations, both in the U.S. and Aviation Operations, Safety and Security sters believe that this legislation is fair abroad; requiring foreign stations to be Subcommittee. and reasonable,” Hall testified. inspected at least twice a year by FAA Hall said the express carrier legisla- “For example, UPS employees who inspectors; and requiring that workers at tion is needed because it closes a loop- work as package car drivers, tractor foreign facilities be held to the same drug hole in current law allowing one com- trailer drivers, loaders, unloaders, sort- and alcohol testing rules as workers at pany, FedEx, to misclassify thousands of ers and truck mechanics can organize U.S. stations. its workers under the wrong labor law. under the NLRA,” Hall testified. “Employ- “This is the only way to ensure the This law has allowed FedEx to have an ees at FedEx Express who perform pre- safety of America’s flying public and to unfair competitive advantage and deprive cisely the same work requiring the same protect our homeland from the threats its workers of rights that similarly situated skill sets are treated dramatically differ- originating in a foreign repair station as employees working for other package ent under our labor laws and are subject a result of lax regulatory standards,” Hall delivery companies enjoy. to the Railway Labor Act, even though told the subcommittee.
www.teamster.org | july/august 2009 | TEAMSTER 13 HOPeOn the Horizon Mechanics and related at Horizon air Join teamsters
or Most airLine Mechanics, separation so that there is a checks-and- Outsourcing concerns safety isn’t just a precaution; it is a balances system on the work that is done,” Along with the majority of his coworkers, way of life. Zdan said. “The new system the company Chase had concerns that went beyond safety. Whether on the shop floor, implemented, which combines the two Like most airlines today, Horizon Air is at the terminal gate or while in flight, departments, has the potential to put struggling financially. To save money, the mechanics understand that what they do planes in jeopardy.” industry trend is to outsource work to for- while on the job directly affects those who For Zdan, the restructuring of the depart- eign repair stations where labor is cheap fly. And, as the old saying goes, it certainly ments was a final straw. Although Zdan and and standards are less strict. is better to be safe than sorry. his coworkers had union representation While Horizon Air has yet to outsource That’s why when management at Hori- through Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Asso- maintenance work, many mechanics felt zon Air, a passenger airline based in Port- ciation (AMFA) and contract language that the issue wasn’t a matter of if, but when. land, Oregon, restructured the company’s forbade the restructuring of maintenance They questioned whether AMFA had the quality control department, quality control and quality control departments, the com- power to stand up to the company on inspector Mike Zdan knew something had pany walked right through the contract. the issue of outsourcing, considering the to give. AMFA did nothing to stop Horizon association couldn’t even fight company A mechanic at Horizon Air for 18 Air from changing the protocol—a move changes that took place internally. years, Zdan knows safety and he knows that angered not only Zdan, but many of “Securing strong scope—or anti-out- the processes that must be done to make his coworkers. sourcing—language was the most impor- aircraft safe for the flying public—and “I was very disappointed with the way tant issue to us during this campaign and grouping quality control with mainte- operations were taking place. I wasn’t satis- I think most guys will tell you that,” Chase nance is not one of them. fied with the contract that was negotiated said. “Our AMFA-negotiated contract had “Quality control has always been or the representation we had,” said Hori- some scope language, but it was weak and separate from maintenance. We need that zon Air Mechanic Rich Chase. relatively minor. Although we expressed
14 t e a M S t e r | JULY/aUGUst 2 0 0 9 | www.teamster.org “The Teamsters prove that they don’t just talk the talk; they walk the walk. They are honest and serious about representing us and they have the strength to stand up to the company.” On the Horizon — rich chase, horizon air Mechanic
what we were looking for, AMFA addressed Among other things, the Teamsters zon Air voted 245-187 to become Teamsters. none of our concerns. We knew we had to showed their power by inviting Horizon More than 80 percent of the 484-member make a change.” mechanic Ryan Hurley to Washington, D.C. bargaining unit voted. Zdan and Chase With nobody else to turn to, mechan- where he and members of the Teamsters couldn’t be happier with the outcome. ics at Horizon Air called on the Teamsters Aviation Mechanics Coalition (TAMC) “I feel this is our best chance to get what for help. lobbied Congress to pass anti-outsourcing we want and need,” Chase said. “The Team- legislation. The Teamsters also dominated sters prove that they don’t just talk the talk; time for change a debate with AMFA and stepped up when they walk the walk. They are honest and Under the direction of organizer Stephanie the company attempted to make a unilateral serious about representing us and they have Patiga, Horizon mechanics and related change to its uniform policy. the strength to stand up to the company.” formed an organizing committee and Most importantly, the Teamsters ran Although the campaign is over, much began a six-month-long campaign to join a campaign free of insults against their work still needs to be done. Horizon the Teamsters. They had their work was cut competition. mechanics, who are now members of Local out for them—AMFA ran a brutal mud- “I felt it was a very professional cam- 986, based in Los Angeles, California, have slinging campaign of their own—but said paign,” Zdan said. “The Teamsters didn’t begun the process to elect shop stewards and time spent organizing was worth it. smear AMFA or that association’s sup- will soon establish a negotiating committee. “The more I worked on the campaign, porters. They simply put out facts and let “I look forward to obtaining a good, the more I saw Teamster representatives our bargaining unit decide for themselves solid contract that we can be proud of,” going above and beyond. Teamster organiz- who was the best union.” Zdan said. “I’ve got a lot of time invested ers worked late into the night; they gave up in this company and I don’t want to hurt their evenings and their weekends for peo- Victory the company. I just want a contract that ple like me,” Chase said. “Their enthusiasm On April 20, that decision was made when is fair and equitable to both parties and I showed me that change was possible.” mechanics and related occupations at Hori- think the Teamsters can provide that.”
www.teamster.org | JULY/aUGUst 2 0 0 9 | teaMSter 15 Maximum Security 3,200 Cook County Corrections Officers Join Local 714 “For far too long the corrections officers have not received adequate service and representation. These officers put their lives on the line every day and we look forward to helping them improve their working conditions through a Teamster contract. This is a great group of Teamsters.” — Billy Logan, Organizing Director, Joint Council 25
he officers at the Cook Teamsters,” said John T. Coli, Joint Coun- “The officers also want to receive County Jail in Chicago have a cil 25 President. “The corrections officers enhanced training like the training the court tough job watching over more work hard every day under very, very dif- service deputies receive,” said Cornett, who than 9,000 inmates at the largest ficult and dangerous conditions to protect was a 20-year police officer. “The enhanced single site county jail in the country, so the community. They deserve to be treated training will give the corrections officers when they needed a union that could fight with respect and dignity, and as Teamsters more job opportunities. Also, during the for their rights they chose the Teamsters. they will achieve that.” past several years, the court service deputies “With the Teamsters, we have the best Billy Logan, organizing director for have passed the corrections officers in pay. chance of getting a fair contract and the Joint Council 25, said it’s good to know The corrections officers want fair pay.” Teamsters will stand up for us against that the corrections officers will soon have Local 714 represents the court service the administration so that our rights are a strong Teamster contract. deputies, and the corrections officers have protected,” said Mark Robinson, the chief “For far too long the corrections offi- seen how the Teamsters have improved the steward who has been a Cook County cor- cers have not received adequate service court officers’ pay and working conditions. rections officer for more than five years. and representation,” Logan said. “These Also, Local 714 represented the correc- Robinson and his coworkers at the five- officers put their lives on the line every tions officers prior to MAP taking over city-block jail that once held Al Capone, day and we look forward to helping them representation nine years ago. Many of the serial killer John Wayne Gacy and other improve their working conditions through veteran corrections officers regret losing infamous criminals voted recently to join a Teamster contract. This is a great group that Teamster representation. Local 714 in Berwyn, Illinois. There are of Teamsters.” “We need to return to the way things about 3,200 corrections officers in the bar- were when we had the Teamsters before,” gaining unit. ‘Feeling of Strength’ Lopez said. “The Teamster difference is that the Patrick Fitzgerald, an officer who has Nick Palomino, a corrections officer Teamsters is a union that actually backs worked at the jail for nearly two years, said at the jail for nearly 10 years, said he has its officers,” said Officer Jesse Lopez, a 12- things will be very different as Teamsters. been familiar with Teamster strength his year veteran of the Cook County Sheriff’s “Our old union had a sit-back-and-do- whole life. Office, which runs the jail, located on 96 nothing approach to things,” Fitzgerald “My father, Lupo, was a member of acres in the nation’s third largest city. said. “They never took the time to fight Local 714 for 19 years. He worked for a For the past nine years, the officers any of the issues. More often than not, manufacturing company,” Palomino said. had been under contract with the Metro- they would side with the administration. “My brother worked at the same company politan Alliance of Police (MAP), which The Teamsters are a large and strong and is now an officer at the jail. Coming did not provide effective representation, union with the necessary experience. from a family of Teamsters, I’ve always the officers said. In March, the officers Being Teamsters gives us a feeling of been impressed with the Teamsters.” chose the Teamsters over MAP and the strength. We know we have a large group Palomino points to the gains the court American Federation of State, County and of people standing behind us when we service officers have made as Teamsters as Municipal Employees (AFSCME) by an want to get our point across.” a hopeful sign that the corrections officers overwhelming margin. The officers were tired of the poor can make similar advances in the future. “Local 714 and all the local unions in service from the previous union, which “The Teamsters will back up the cor- Joint Council 25 joined together and coor- included a long turnaround time for rections officers,” he said. “I’d like to see dinated their efforts and resources to help addressing their grievances, said Barb Cor- some improvements for all the corrections these officers form their union with the nett, a business agent with Local 714. officers.”
www.teamster.org | JULY/ A UGU s t 2 0 0 9 | TEAMSTER 17 a Safer Workplace Everyone kept saying, ‘It never used to be four years, initially supported a different Improving safety is a big concern for offi- like this when we were Teamsters.’” union. cers. “We need to improve the condition “Through the leadership of my chief of the building. Some of the areas are very Legal Support steward, I was able to see the error in my old,” Palomino said. Another big problem is officers who face ways and I soon supported the Teamsters,” Denise Hobbs, an officer for more than lawsuits by inmates. If an inmate feels his he said. “I believe the Teamsters have the two years, agrees that safety is a major civil rights were violated, often they sue officers’ best interests in mind. The Team- concern. officers. sters’ record speaks for itself. The Team- “From what I’ve seen, we often come “The officers have had to pay for their sters have the proven ability to fight for the second to the safety of the inmates,” legal defense,” she said. common man.” Hobbs said. Fortunately, the Teamsters Union McGee, who works in the intake/depar- Hobbs, like other officers, has to deal offers its Team Legal Defense Plan, which ture section, said he is looking forward to with a volatile mix of violent offenders and provides top quality, affordable, nation- his first Teamster contract. inmates who suffer from mental illness and wide legal assistance for Teamsters in law “I feel the current contract that we’re substance abuse. She has worked in the enforcement. The plan provides represen- under has a total lack of respect for the women’s division and now works in the tation for duty-related civil and criminal officers,” McGee said. “I believe in basic maximum security/mental health division. incidents and preparation for grand jury fairness. We need clear contract language “It’s a very dangerous environment,” she hearings. with no ambiguity.” said. “I had fights last night on my tier.” Anthony McGee, an officer for nearly Lopez said officers supported the Team- Hobbs said the senior sters because the Teamsters worked hard to officers have told her sto- clarify and solidify its message of bringing ries about the strength of help to the officers. Lopez was active on the the Teamsters. campaign early on, and he helped bring “I knew we would fliers into the jail so that officers would be get the best representa- tion from the Team- sters,” she said. “I kept on hearing, ‘We need the Teamsters back.’
18 t e a M S t e r | JULY/aUGUst 2 0 0 9 | www.teamster.org familiar with the Teamsters. “I knew from my previous experience with the Teamsters that we needed the Teamsters back,” he said. “Officers do a hard job here and there’s a lot of good “I’m relieved to be a Teamster again,” people here. We want to make sure we’re treated he said. “It’s a feeling of relief knowing that we have a union that’s going to do right. We know Local 714’s history. We know they something.” will fight to get us a fair contract.” Gus Horemis, the lead organizer in the campaign who is training to be a business — Mark Robinson, chief steward and Cook County corrections officer agent, said the officers want aggressive representation and they know the Team- sters can provide that. “The officers are an intelligent group,” trators for taking the time off, Robinson will only be enhanced as Teamsters. Our Horemis said. “You’re dealing with a said. Also, the administration has been biggest challenge will be uniting every- show-me crowd. We showed them what cutting the minimum staffing levels, one, but I’m confident we can do that the Teamsters will accomplish for them.” which increases the stress level for officers. as Teamsters. Once we get everyone on “In a sense, we’re the inmates now,” board and on the same page, there’s no Fair Treatment Robinson said of the cumulative effect of battle we can’t win and no mountain we With the Teamsters, Robinson said, offi- the harmful policies. can’t climb.” cers will be able to negotiate a strong con- “Officers do a hard job here and there’s Hobbs agreed that the mood has tract that will lift morale. a lot of good people here. We want to improved, and officers have more hope as “I just want to see the officers treated make sure we’re treated right,” he said. Teamsters. fairly,” he said. “We need representation “We know Local 714’s history. We know “We’re holding our heads up a little that will give us something to make the day they will fight to get us a fair contract.” higher,” she said. a little better when we come into work.” McGee and the other officers said it Officers are entitled to take medical feels great to be Teamsters. time off, similar to sick time, but they “I feel like I’m part of a brotherhood,” often face harassment from jail adminis- he said. “The camaraderie of the officers
www.teamster.org | JULY/ A UGU s t 2 0 0 9 | TEAMSTER 19 OrgaNiziNg rOuNDuP
the day off with pay the day Bringing it Home of the election, and did not The Ecology Services workers cleaning up post a mandatory day of work, united over common con- which had been previously cerns, recognizing the need Waste Workers Join Local 311 agreed upon by the company for affordable health care and and Local 311. Following a improved wages, but most of favorable decision by the labor all, respect and fair treatment hey perform hard Myles, a driver. “We joined the board, the workers finally had on the job. work vital to public Teamsters to let them know a fair election, resulting in an A recent meeting held by health and sanitation, we’re equal, to turn this com- overwhelming 115-57 vote for Local 311 to accept contract handling residential, pany around and do things the representation by Local 311. proposals was attended by tyard and bulk waste. And when right way.” “I’m awful proud of them, more than 100 workers. This it came to fighting for their that after all this time these participation is key, as the rights, these workers wasted no Patience Prevails workers stood together, workers stand up for proper time in uniting. The vote came after a difficult because when they stand treatment on the job, and hope About 200 workers at Ecol- year for the workers. A previ- together they can make good to negotiate a fair contract. ogy Services in Anne Arundel ous unsuccessful vote resulted things happen,” said Neil “It’s been tough fighting. and Howard Counties in in objections by Local 311 and Dixon, President of Local 311. We’ve been through a lot. We Maryland recently voted by the workers, which prevailed “The local worked very were to the point where we more than a 2-1 margin to join through two labor board appeals hard for this victory for these didn’t want to feel our job was Local 311 in Baltimore. and a hearing, and included workers. They never gave on the line when we walked “I think the vote sums up charges against the company for up, and this victory is thanks into the office to say some- everything. We did this to help inappropriate action during the to their resilience,” said Bob thing,” Myles said. “It was up us all get a better work situa- organizing campaign. Morales, Director of the Solid to us to bring it home, and we tion, to see better working con- Among the objections: that Waste, Recycling and Related brought it home.” ditions and respect,” said James the company provided workers Industries Division.
20 t e a M S t e r | JULY/aUGUst 2 0 0 9 | www.teamster.org L o c a l 9 9 7 L o c a l 4 4 5 Student in Brooklyn Park. “This was a big team effort and “The Teamsters Bimbo Bakeries Walden, New York there was a lot of motivation to name recognition rivers and mechanics with Police Department vote Teamsters.” was critical in DBimbo Bakeries recently According to Mark Rime, voted by nearly a 2-1 margin to olice officers in Walden, Secretary-Treasurer of Local our success—the become members of Teamsters PNew York have voted by 638, this is the first group of Local 997 in Fort Worth, Texas. a 17-1 margin to join New- First Student workers that workers know The 73 workers joined the burgh-based Local 445, mark- Local 638 has organized, and the power of the Teamsters in seeking job secu- ing the local’s third organizing hopefully the beginning of rity and protections provided victory for 2009. This follows a more workers deciding to join Teamsters.” by a strong Teamster contract. recent victory for housekeep- the union. — Joe Gronek, Secretary- “We’re honored that these ing staff at West Point’s Army “There is a movement of Treasurer of Local 402. dedicated and united bakery Hospital. The staff voted by a school bus workers in Min- drivers and mechanics are 29-0 margin to be represented nesota, and across the nation, now a part of our union and by Local 445. In March, oil who are driving up standards we look forward to providing delivery drivers at Wallace Oil in this industry by uniting as were intimidated terribly by them with strong Teamster in Middletown voted 16-2 to Teamsters,” said Jeff Farmer, the employer throughout the representation,” said Richard join the local. Teamsters Director of Orga- campaign, but chose to join Volpe, Director of the Bakery In the past two years, Local nizing and former Director of the Teamsters despite that and Laundry Conference. 445 has won 25 of the 26 elec- Organizing for Joint Council intimidation,” said John Far- Bimbo Bakeries USA is the tions it has faced, increasing 32 in Minnesota. rish, Secretary-Treasurer of U.S. division of the Mexico its membership by more than Local 29. City-based Grupo Bimbo, 1,200 new workers. The local L o c a l 2 9 a major producer of baked now represents 3,600 members L o c a l 4 0 2 goods. More than 4,000 Team- throughout the Hudson Valley. Marshalls sters work at Bimbo Bakeries “These were tough but Bridgewater Evergreen nationwide. rewarding victories,” said Adri- Trucking an Huff, Secretary-Treasurer of Merchants, Inc. L o c a l 2 5 Local 445. “Management threw ixteen maintenance mployees of Evergreen everything in the book at us, Sworkers at Marshalls ETrucking in Courtland, Medford CPL but the employees hung in Bridgewater Merchants Inc. in Alabama, recently voted to join y a 3-1 margin, driv- there and saw through the lies Bridgewater, Virginia, a ware- Local 402 in Muscle Shoals. Bers who deliver Dunkin’ and threats.” house that supplies Marshalls The drivers, dispatchers and Donuts to satellite outlets and T.J. Maxx stores with mechanics work at a “spotting have voted to join Local 25 in L o c a l 6 3 8 merchandise, recently voted to service,” responsible for mov- Boston. become members of Local 29 ing tractor-trailer rigs in and The drivers at Medford First Student in Waynesboro, Virginia. out of an International Paper CPL, Inc. in Medford, Mas- irst Student school bus The workers cited job pro- plant located across the street sachusetts voted 12-4 to join Fdrivers and monitors in tection, respect and fairness on from their yard. There are 20 Local 25. There are 18 drivers Brooklyn Park, Minnesota the job as the primary reasons workers in the bargaining unit. in the bargaining unit. have voted overwhelmingly, for seeking representation. “The Teamsters name rec- The drivers deliver donuts 102-33, in favor of representa- “We chose the Teamsters ognition was critical in our to satellite outlets, often tion by the Teamsters Union, because we were looking for a success—the workers know located inside gas stations or seeking fair pay, affordable union that had power, a union the power of the Teamsters,” convenience stores. The work- health insurance, respect and that was going to put its foot said Joe Gronek, Secretary- ers are looking to negotiate a voice in their workplace. The down and stand up for us,” Treasurer of Local 402. fair wages and improvements 167 workers are now members said Kenneth Siever, a Mar- The workers want more job in safety and to gain respect in of Local 638 in Minneapolis. shalls employee. security, fair wages and over- their workplace. “I knew there had to be a “I really applaud these time. Right now, they are on a change and we needed to speak workers for sticking together 60-hour schedule and do not up,” said Michael Mendenhall, and sticking behind their belief receive overtime after working a three-year driver with First that life could be better. They 40 hours.
www.teamster.org | JULY/ A UGU s t 2 0 0 9 | TEAMSTER 21 eaders attending the 2009 On one occasion, Hoffa said, Obama and Unity Conference celebrated Vice President Joe Biden told him and the election of President Barack other union leaders, “Welcome back to Obama and the 43,000-plus Team- your White House.” sters organized last year, but everyone left Still, Hoffa cautioned, much work lies focused on the tasks at hand—more orga- ahead and Teamsters cannot rest with the nizing success this year and passage of the Obama victory. Teamsters everywhere Employee Free Choice Act. need to help pass the Employee Free “We will continue to make organiz- Choice Act, and must hold members of ing our top priority and we need to pass Congress accountable. the Employee Free Choice Act,” said Jim General Secretary-Treasurer Tom Hoffa, Teamsters General President. “We Keegel, celebrating 50 years as a Teamster, have much more hard work ahead of us.” implored leaders to continue fighting for More than 1,200 Teamsters—principal justice for workers, recalling the Team- officers, rank-and-file members, organiz- sters’ Minneapolis General Strike of 1934, ers, business agents and others—from the had an air of optimism with President which paved the way for organizing truck United States, Canada and Puerto Rico Obama now presiding at 1600 Pennsylva- drivers and the growth of the Teamsters. attended this year’s Unity Conference. nia Avenue. “Teamsters never give up, never give Unlike the past eight years, when Presi- Hoffa told attendees he has visited the in, and Teamsters never back down from a dent Bush was in office, this year’s event White House five times as of early May. fight,” Keegel said. United And Vice President Joe Biden attending Unity. Bailey is a member of the U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters, a California The Vice President, who addressed the executive board of the Teamsters Graphic Democrat and longtime Teamster sup- conference via video, leads the White Communications Conference (GCC) porter, told the leaders they must hold House Task Force on Working Families, M767 in Kent, Washington. Congress accountable to make the changes unveiled in late January at a White House “If you lose your job, you don’t lose your that got them elected. ceremony attended by Hoffa. The new union,” Bailey said. “There are so many job “You can’t let them forget,” Waters said. task force is focusing on stabilizing the “You must remind them that they were economy and making it work for Ameri- elected to change things.” ca’s workers again, and Hoffa is playing a key advisory role. Biden said the Obama Organizing Triumphs administration has numerous goals to Organizing Director Jeff Farmer told the strengthen workers, including health-care attendees that the union accomplished its reform and signing the Employee Free two union-wide goals in 2008: organizing Choice Act. more than 40,000 workers and electing “We can’t have a strong middle class Obama as president. without a strong union movement,” he “As Teamsters, we delivered,” Farmer said, slowing enunciating the letters, “U- said. “The goals for 2009 include organiz- N-I-O-N.” ing another 40,000-plus workers and pass- Although the political landscape has ing the Employee Free Choice Act.” changed dramatically for the better, leaders In 2009, as of early May, 10,000 workers Determined 2009 Unity Conference Focuses On Organizing, Political Victories
were reminded throughout Unity of the opportunities in the Teamsters.” Bailey said dire economic conditions facing the coun- she tries to convince younger workers to not try and Teamsters everywhere. Teamsters withdraw from the union if they lose their in distressed industries such as freight, car- jobs. Remaining in the union can help them haul and newspapers have been especially find new work, she said. hit hard. Outside the hall, Rebecca Bailey, a jour- Economist Weighs In neyman pressman at The Seattle Times, Robert Kuttner, an economist and found- said she found out she was laid off while ing co-editor of The American Prospect, brought home the struggle workers face every day during a 40-minute discussion on the economy. “For the past 30 years, financial elites have had too much power and our work- ing people have had too little,” Kuttner had already organized with the Teamsters, said of three decades of anti-worker laws including 2,800 school bus and transit and policies. Kuttner cited misclassifica- workers, 3,200 Cook County, Illinois Cor- tion of workers, flagrant union busting, rections officers and 500 mechanics at trucking deregulation and other devas- Horizon Airlines. There is strong organiz- tating trends that have hurt workers and ing momentum, and the union has a goal benefited the financial elites. The problems of training and mobilizing 1,000 member have been magnified by fraud and exploi- organizers this year to help reach the tation on Wall Street by big business. 40,000 level again, Farmer said.
www.teamster.org | JULY/ A UGU s t 2 0 0 9 | TEAMSTER 23 The campaign to organize 8,000 fleet the UPS Freight campaign is a great exam- service workers at Continental Airlines is ple of what we can achieve,” Potter said. under way. Two Continental fleet service International Vice President John Coli workers, Gary Welch and Mark Cline, shared his experiences working with local, received standing ovations during Unity. state and federal officials. That effort is “The Teamsters Union is the only union more important than ever to tap into the that has the resources needed to reach our federal stimulus money that’s available. outstations and be successful in winning at “There’s a lot of government money Continental,” said Welch, based in Houston. out there,” Coli said, urging leaders to “We now know what the real Teamster focus on forging political ties. “We need difference is and know that we will be to be aware of the opportunities out there. Teamsters. Continental Ramp believes in We need to get a piece of the pie and cre- the Teamsters Union!” ate more Teamster jobs.” International Vice President Ken Hall, President Hoffa honored three mem- Director of the union’s Package Division, bers of the crew that crash landed a Boeing addressed members about the union’s cam- told leaders that his office is working hard to 747 in a field near Bogota, Colombia on paign to organize the mechanics and related prosecute the wrongdoers on Wall Street in craft and class employees at FedEx Express. an effort to restore confidence in the finan- cial system. Cuomo said he is also fighting Speakers against anti-worker laws and policies, such Andrew Cuomo, New York Attorney Gen- as misclassification of workers and the eral, a strong supporter of working families, inequality of wages in the United States. “The working families have built this nation,” Cuomo said. “It is the American worker that makes this country run, not the CEOs.” International Vice President Fred Pot- ter, the union’s new Port Division Director, talked about the importance of neutral- ity agreements—in which the company agrees to refrain from speaking negatively July 7, 2008. Captains Bryant Beebe, Ivan about the union to its employees—in Dankha and Richard Dunlap managed organizing campaigns. to get the 747 fully loaded with 73 tons of “These types of agreements help level the flowers on the ground after losing power playing field in organizing campaigns, and in three engines. All eight crewmembers
24 t e a MS t e r | J U LY / A UGU s t 2 0 0 9 | www.teamster.org on board survived. This was the only Council 25 is lobbying at the Illinois state off-airport B747 crash in history to have Capitol in Springfield, where the union survivors. David Bourne, Airline Division has successfully fought for the interests Director, will take plaques to two other of public-sector Teamsters. Coli cited the crew members who are still recovering recent organizing victory at Cook County from the accident and could not attend the Corrections, where nearly 3,200 officers Unity Conference. joined Local 714. International Vice President Cheryl Jim Santangelo, International Vice Johnson, who is retiring, was honored at President and President of Joint Council Unity by President Hoffa for her 40 years 42 in Southern California, said his Joint of service to the Teamsters. Hoffa noted Council works closely with the 22 local Johnson’s many roles, including Director unions on charitable causes, political of the Human Rights Commission (HRC). actions, a very effective phone-banking Johnson introduced the new HRC Direc- system, organizing campaigns, scholarship tor, Antonio Christian. Western Region programs and the Helmets to Hardhats Vice President Chuck Mack also retired. leaders at the 2009 Unity Conference said. program, which helps veterans transition During a meeting of Joint Council and to Teamster jobs. Working Together local union leaders held before the general “We help coordinate these programs Joint Councils are more important than session of unity, Teamsters discussed ways and services and our message to local ever to the Teamsters Union and they must the two groups could work closer together unions is that they have to participate on work closer with local unions to share by using successful strategies employed in behalf of their members,” he said. resources and to better serve members, previous campaigns. Throughout Unity, leaders talked about Hoffa cited the success of the UPS the importance—and the responsibil- Freight campaign, in which 12,600 work- ity—of Teamsters working together to ers at the former Overnite Transportation grow the union. now belong to the Teamsters, because Outside the meeting hall, John Sholtes, Joint Councils across the country worked an organizer with Local 79 in Tampa, together and they worked with their local Florida, helped sum up the message. unions and the International Union to “As James R. Hoffa said back in the organize the various terminals. late 1950s, we need to ‘organize, organize, International Vice President John Coli, organize,’” Sholtes said. “We need to in President of Joint Council 25 in Chicago, order to grow and increase our influence said Joint Councils teaming up with local on society. We can accomplish this by unions are helping to pool resources and strengthening our middle class through increase clout. An example within Joint collective bargaining on a massive scale.”
www.teamster.org | JULY/ A UGU s t 2 0 0 9 | TEAMSTER 25 Illustration by Robert Pereida pENSioN TENSioN is a Comfortable Retirement a Thing of the past for Working Americans?
avey Grubbs is a 46-year old again, Teamsters are leading the charge to decade? If that was a perfect storm, today’s truck driver with 25 years on the defend the gains made by generations of economic crisis is a tsunami that is wip- job delivering cars for Allied Sys- working people and their unions. ing out retirement savings and pensions tems. A father of three and mem- “The free marketers, free traders, worldwide. ber of Local 391 in Greensboro, North trickle downers and deregulators have Pension funds are invested in stocks, Carolina, he said he’s “a hard working man failed to deliver on their promise of long- bonds and other securities that have all looking for a way so I don’t have to do it term prosperity,” said Tom Keegel, General been hit hard. The stock market lost 56 until I die.” Secretary-Treasurer. “Now it’s up to us to percent of its value between the high of Grubbs blames the current economic clean up their mess and make things right September 2007 and the beginning of crisis on deregulation in the banking for the people who built this great country March 2009. Much of that $13-trillion loss industry and says, unfortunately, “Taxpay- of ours and who truly care for it.” is showing up in reduced 401(k)s and the ers are going to have to suffer through it.” now dangerously low funding levels of He has seen his self-contributory 401(k) Current Crisis Jeopardizes defined benefit pension plans. go down 53 percent since 2007. As a Retirement Security A measure of the predicament pension participant in the Central States Pension Things have gotten so bad that the only funds now find themselves in is, in the Fund, he was already expecting to delay people who can retire when they planned last year alone, the funding ratio (the ratio his retirement because of the necessary to and get the income they expected are between what a pension plan is worth and steps taken several years ago to preserve Teamsters and others in defined benefit what it must pay today’s and tomorrow’s the fund. pension plans. Take Mike Furtado, a retirees) for the 100 largest U.S. sponsors of “With changes that have been made I longtime Local 853 member who works traditional defined benefit plans, fell from feel Central States will become solvent. We at Dairy Berkeley Farms in Hayward, Cali- 99.6 percent to 71.7 percent, according to need to move legislation forward that buys fornia. With 38 years in the Western States Watson Wyatt, a leading global consulting more time for the market to come back,” Pension Fund and getting ready to retire in firm. And things are just as bad in 2009 as he said. “I’m going to have to continue the next few years, he said, “I’m fortunate pension funds, like all institutional invest- working and hope that the market turns and happy to have the Teamsters in our ments, experienced a terrible first quarter. around and our investments rebound.” corner. We get the best people to advise us Wall Street’s collapse has laid bare the on how to invest.” inadequacies of our nation’s retirement Anyone with a 401(k)—the corporate system. While all eyes are on White House answer to the more expensive, reliable and congressional efforts to get the coun- defined benefit pension—now knows try back on track, the worst retirement cri- that they alone do not provide adequate sis since before Social Security was created retirement savings. At the same time, in 1935 looms large on the horizon. defined benefit pensions, the bedrock of Unless an economic turnaround union-won retirement security, continue emerges soon, Washington will have to to be under attack by those responsible for act to prevent thousands of pension funds bringing on the global recession. nationwide from going belly up and to Remember the historic three-year bolster retirement savings. And once decline in the U.S. stock market earlier this
www.teamster.org | july/august 2009 | TEAMSTER 27 “We need to send a message to our investment managers that they work for our funds. We have a say on how they run their companies and what they do.” — toM Keegel, general secretary-treasurer
Committee is consider- talk about these things. I have more than ing changes to strengthen 100 guys in the warehouse. It’s a younger retirement plans, a Senate crew and it’s hard to get the right mix of panel is examining what wage and pension increases in our con- will happen to workers tract, so we have a lot to talk about.” nearing retirement because Even though their New England Team- Without relief from Washington, of the faltering economy, and the House sters Trucking Pension Fund has had to underfunded pension plans may be forced Small Business Committee is discussing make changes to stay solvent, he said, “I to cut back on future payouts because of the challenges small employers face in tell my guys, ‘Your pension is a much bet- Pension Protection Act rules that took sponsoring retirement plans. ter deal than a 401(k). At least the pension effect last year. “Our system of retirement income is a guaranteed benefit that you know security was completely unprepared for the you’re going to get, you just have to work Congress Focuses sort of financial earthquake set in motion for it. With the 401(k) you don’t know on Retirement policy by the collapse of the housing bubble and what you’re going to get.’” Behind all of these percentages, statistics its secondary impact on the stock mar- Acting PBGC Director Vince Snow- and rules are real people who have worked ket,” said Dean Baker, co-director of the barger agrees. “Although there was a hard all of their lives to feed, clothe, house Center for Economic and Policy Research, declining interest in defined benefit plans, and educate their children and who in his testimony to the House Education say over the past couple of decades, that deserve to enjoy a decent quality of life in and Labor Committee at a recent hearing. might turn around as people begin to retirement. “Older workers were already inadequately understand the benefits that a defined “I’ve got 30 years on the job,” said prepared for retirement even prior to these benefit plan has to offer over a 401(k),” he Albert Garone, a Local 804 member who events. The events of the last two years now said in a recent interview. works as a plant engineer for UPS in New put most of the baby boom cohorts facing York City. “I’m very thankful to the union retirement with very little to depend on The Front Lines for securing my pension, but what’s guar- other than their Social Security and Medi- “We need to send a message to our invest- anteed in today’s economy?” Garone, who care benefits.” ment managers that they work for our recently attended a union pre-retirement Baker’s testimony underscores the grow- funds,” Keegel recently told Teamster seminar with his wife Maureen Gleason, is ing realization that defined contribution trustees at the eighth annual Trustee Edu- not planning on retiring for a while. Nev- (DC) plans, such as 401(k)s, simply cannot cation Conference in Phoenix. “We have a ertheless, he thinks that, “The government guarantee secure retirements like tradi- say on how they run their companies and is bailing out corporations. They ought to tional defined benefit (DB) plans do. DCs what they do.” stabilize the individual’s security and guar- come with no guarantees and no backing Keegel has formed a task force of antee our pensions too.” by the federal government. DBs guarantee Teamster trustees to develop strategies to Such concern about the future of a monthly check for life and are backed by demand pension reforms in Congress and retirement has sparked much hand wring- the federal government through the Pension also to push for changes that can be made ing in Washington, and Congress is now Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC). to ease pressure on Teamster funds with- taking up the issue of how to fix the Like many Teamsters, Boston Local out legislative approval. nation’s broken retirement system. In the 122 member Jim Hollarand doesn’t have Trustees came together at the annual first step toward developing legislation to to be told his 401(k) can’t hold a candle to meeting to share best practices, identify reform the system, lawmakers are hold- his pension. A 48-year-old shop steward ways to help and grow Teamster funds, ing a series of congressional hearings to with 25 years on the job at Martignetti develop plans to protect Teamsters’ retire- assess the state of Americans’ retirement wine and liquor company, Hollarand said, ment security and hold investment man- security. The House Education and Labor “Every morning in the drivers’ room we agers accountable.
28 TEAMSTER | july/august 2009 | www.teamster.org “Our challenges today are far greater, union-backed defined benefit pensions clock ticking, Teamsters are once again and so too is our mission,” Keegel said. that guarantee lifelong income. These free leading the fight to reform the nation’s “We understand our role is about more market ideologues are the same people retirement system. This is a battle that will than simply protecting our members’ ben- who drove the country into the worst require Teamster allies in labor, business efits. As trustees, we are now on the front economic crisis since the Great Depres- and government to work together toward line of the effort to grow our union and sion. Having succeeded in weakening a solution that will have to come from support workers’ rights. And I’m proud to traditional defined benefit pension plans Washington. say that we are making a difference.” in the private sector, they are now pound- This time there is a difference in the Keegel and other participants stressed the ing a steady beat to cut public pensions. struggle for pension security. President importance of contributing to DRIVE now They are trying to convince the public Barack Obama is in the White House and more than ever before as the union fights and policymakers that the country can no he understands Teamster concerns and to protect Teamsters’ retirement security, longer afford comfortable retirements for those shared by working people every- which will require a political solution. working people. where. President Obama has made it clear “If there was ever a time to participate in The Teamsters Union is on the front that strong unions and the wages, benefits DRIVE, it is right now,” said Brad Slawson lines of the fight to protect pensions and a and working conditions that come with a Sr., International Vice President. “We need to secure, dignified retirement for America’s union contract, are key to America’s eco- have all of us pushing in the same direction. workers. With more than 150 pension nomic recovery. It’s our responsibility to energize our mem- funds and more than 200 health and wel- In the meantime, it’s important for bership because we have to work together.” fare funds, the Teamsters Union has finan- working Americans, especially members Keegel also recognized leaders of locals cial power to make a difference. of the Teamsters Union, to get involved who used their collective financial might In response to the sweeping decline in and stay current on these issues and any in the fight for economic justice in such pension plan values last year, the Teamsters changes to their retirement benefits. campaigns as Oak Harbor Freight Lines, led a successful effort to win a temporary “Be more involved with your union U.S. Foodservice and the black car indus- reprieve from the strict funding require- and learn the truth about your pension try in New York. They were awarded the ments of the 2006 Pension Protection Act plan. If adjustments are made, find out General Secretary-Treasurer’s Trustee (PPA). Signed into law in January, the why they are made,” Grubbs said. “Don’t Leadership Awards. Worker, Retiree and Employer Recovery just ride the train for free and when things Act lets pension funds defer their plans to don’t go well point your finger at those Needed: permanent pension Reform meet strict PPA funding requirements. people who have had to make tough Corporate funded, anti-pension forces And with no let-up to the economic choices for others.” are using the economic crisis to attack downturn in sight, and the regulatory
“Be more involved with your union and learn the truth about your pension plan. If adjustments are made, fi nd out why they are made.” —daVey gruBBs, local 391
www.teamster.org | july/august 2009 | TEAMSTER 29 i r b R E p o R T 3
The IRB notified Mr. Hoffa and Mr. Hahs that it found REPORT TO ALL MEMBERS the IBT decision to be not inadequate. The IRB has made OF THE INTERNATIONAL Application 131 to the district court for Judge Preska’s BROTHERHOOD OF TEAMSTERS review. The matter is with Judge Preska.
FROM: Independent Review Board B. RICHARD RADEK – BLET VICE PRESIDENT Benjamin R. Civiletti We have previously informed you that BLET Vice Presi- Joseph E. diGenova dent Richard Radek allegedly brought reproach upon the William H. Webster IBT, breached his fiduciary duty, and embezzled over $6,700 in union funds by causing the BLET to pay for meals which had no union purpose and receiving an allowance which DATED: June 8, 2009 covered the cost of his home office supplies while at the same time causing the BLET to directly pay for his home office supplies. General President Hoffa filed the charges against Mr. Radek and a panel was appointed to hear the I. INTRODUCTION charges. Before a hearing could be held, Mr. Radek submit- This is the Independent Review Board’s (“IRB”) Report ted to the IRB an agreement in which he permanently retired Number 3 for 2009 to you on its activities conducted pur- from the BLET, became ineligible to hold any appointed or suant to the Consent Order. In this Report we will discuss elected office or employment with the BLET, the IBT or any matters that have currently come before us, including the progress of existing charges about which we have previously affiliate of the BLET or the IBT, and made restitution for informed you. funds the IRB alleged he received. The IRB found the agree- ment served to resolve the matter. On May 27, 2009, the IRB forwarded the agreement to Judge Preska for review.
II. PROGRESS OF EXISTING CHARGES C. PETER INNAURATO – LOCAL 107, A. DON HAHS - BLET HEADQUARTERS, PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA CLEVELAND, OHIO We have previously informed you that that Peter Innau- We have previously informed you that Don Hahs, an rato allegedly brought reproach upon the IBT and violated officer of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and his membership oath while an IBT member by knowing- Trainmen (BLET), a Division of the Teamsters Rail Con- ly associating with a member of the Philadelphia La Cosa ference, allegedly violated his fiduciary duties to the BLET Nostra family. Mr. Hoffa notified the IRB that he adopted and its members, embezzled and converted BLET funds and and filed the charges against Mr. Innaurato and he returned property to his own use and the use of others, and brought the charges to the IRB for a hearing. The IRB’s hearing reproach upon the IBT while President of the BLET by was postponed after Mr. Innaurato submitted to the IRB an embezzling over $58,000 from the BLET. agreement in which he permanently resigned from the IBT After an IBT panel hearing, Mr. Hoffa issued his deci- and Local 107 and agreed never to hold membership or any sion removing Mr. Hahs from his current position in the position in the IBT. The IRB found the agreement served to BLET until his current term of office has expired in 2010, resolve the matter. On May 28, 2009, the IRB forwarded suspending him from membership in the BLET and the IBT the agreement to Judge Preska for review. for a period of one year, and requiring payment of a fine of $44,963.97.
30 TEAMSTER | july/august 2009 | www.teamster.org i r b R E p o R T 3
D. ROBERT A. HOGAN - LOCAL 714, BERWYN, IV. CONCLUSION ILLINOIS As always, our task is to ensure that the goals of the We have previously informed you that Robert A. Hogan, Consent Order are fulfilled. In doing so, it is our desire to Joint Council 25 Vice President and Local 714 Secretary- keep the IBT membership fully informed about our activities Treasurer, allegedly failed to act appropriately after he cre- through these reports and also through use of the website at ated a situation likely to result in a violation of the Consent www.irbcases.org. Order when he rehired Robert Riley to work at Local 714 If you have any information concerning allegations of and failed to take any action to prevent, and, after learn- wrongdoing or corruption, you may call the toll-free hot- ing, to address Mr. Riley’s ongoing contact with William T. line noted above, use the IRB facsimile number 202-434- Hogan, Jr., a prohibited person under the Consent Order. 8084, or write to either the IRB Chief Investigator or the The IRB held a hearing on April 2, 2008, and while IRB office: the IRB was in the process of issuing a decision, the IRB received a proposed agreement between Mr. Hogan and the Charles M. Carberry, Chief Investigator IRB. Mr. Hogan agreed to permanently resign all positions 17 Battery Place, Suite 331 with Local 714 and Joint Council 25 and for a period of New York, NY 10004 two years he would not hold any officer position with the IBT or any IBT affiliated entity. He further agreed not to be Independent Review Board an officer or employee of Local 727 for five years. The IRB 444 North Capitol Street, N.W. found the agreement serves to resolve the matter and made Suite 528 Application 133 to Judge Preska for review of the agree- Washington, DC 20001 ment. The matter is with Judge Preska.
III. TOLL-FREE HOTLINE Since our last report to you, the hotline has received approximately 75 calls reporting alleged improprieties. As in the past, all calls which appeared to fall within IRB juris- diction were referred for investigation. Activities which should be reported for investigation include, but are not limited to, association with organized crime, corruption, racketeering, embezzlement, extortion, assault, or failure to investigate any of these. To assure that all calls are treated confidentially, the sys- tem recording hotline calls is located in a cipher-locked IRB room on a dedicated line and accessed by IRB staff only. It is not manned by an investigator; however, the recorded information if complete and within IRB jurisdiction is for- warded directly to the Investigations Office. Please continue to use the toll-free hotline to report improprieties which fall within IRB jurisdiction by calling 1- 800-CALL-IRB (1-800-225-5472). If you are calling from within Washington, DC, dial 202-434-8085.
www.teamster.org | july/august 2009 | TEAMSTER 31 Carriage Drivers Get In Horse Sense Touch With Their Roots
orse-drawn carriage that Local 553 originally represented driv- said Antonino Salerno, a Local 553 Central drivers in New York City’s Cen- ers of horse-drawn coal wagons when we Park carriage driver whose grandfather tral Park recently got in touch became a local with the Teamsters Union and eight brothers were all carriage with their roots by joining the more than a century ago.” drivers. “We talk about our horses like Teamsters Union. In January, a coalition Since becoming Teamsters, the carriage a parent speaking happily of their chil- of owners, drivers and stable workers, drivers said the union has already made dren…To be a horse and carriage driver, all related to the Central Park carriages, great strides. Joint Council 16 President you must first love animals. Horses are joined New York’s Local 553. George Miranda also assisted them by beautiful, powerful animals, but also very When a city council member in New making the union’s lobbyist available to delicate creatures that need owners who York proposed a bill banning the carriages, work with them. The political clout of the love and care for them.” in effect doing away with one of the old- Teamsters was one of the biggest reasons “We’re about 400 people strong. est professions in the city and the jobs of they joined the union. Politicians won’t go out on a limb for 400 more than 300 of these workers, the driv- people, but they will for the Teamsters ers realized their voices on the issue were Like Family Union,” said Colm McKeever, who has not being heard. Critics of the profession say the carriages been a carriage driver for more than 20 “Local 553 has really given our voice are inhumane, but spending a few minutes years. McKeever said that approximately some volume,” said Frank Rodden, who has with any of these drivers will dispel that half of the carriage drivers are, like him, driven carriages in Central Park for 22 years. myth quickly. The drivers are happy to talk from Ireland. “The representation has been fantastic.” about the care that goes into their horses, “Demos and the Teamsters have “The historical aspect of joining Local and more than a few pointed out that if opened a lot of doors for us,” said Eddie 553 is not lost on any of the new mem- they don’t treat the horse well and keep it Callaghan, a 21-year Central Park carriage bers,” said Demos Demopoulos, Secretary- healthy and happy, the driver doesn’t work. driver from Northwest Ireland.. “So far, we Treasurer of Local 553. “They all know “Horse carriage drivers are like family,” have been very impressed with the union.”
32 TEAMSTER | july/august 2009 | www.teamster.org 2009 Essay Poster-Final:Layout 1 6/24/09 11:34 AM Page 1
Topic: What was the worst job you or a family member ever held, and how would a labor union, such as the Teamsters, have made the situation better?
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Deadline for submissions is September 30, 2009
For Students attending a community college, 4-year institution or a technical/vocational program, Age 23 and Younger, who are Children or Grandchildren of Teamster Members.
For an application, contact your Teamsters Local Union office or visit www.teamster.org Org Bootcamp Mag Ad:Layout 1 6/25/09 9:09 AM Page 1
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