8420_Local25_Winter08.qxp 4/11/08 3:16 PM Page 1 WINTER 2008 Making Movies in Boston, AKA ★ HOLLYWOOD EAST★ 8420_Local25_Winter08.qxp 4/11/08 3:16 PM Page 2 8 14 VISIT THE Left Lane 22 12 The “Left Lane” is the name of the new Teamsters Local 25 Store, In This Issue | Winter 2008 which is housed in the Day Room at the headquarters at 544 Main FEATURES DEPARTMENTS Street, Charlestown, Massachusetts. 8 Full Steam Ahead 2 Business Agent Reports Thestorefeaturesaselectnumber at UPS Freight 10 Calendar of different items offered on a sea- Thousands of Workers Join sonal basis: shirts, hats, jackets and Teamsters from Coast to Coast 16 TeamstersCare sweatshirts. There will also be spe- 18 Organizing cialty items available throughout 12 Hollywood East the year. Boston is Getting the Reputation 20 Blood Bank as “Hollywood East” Thestorewillbeopenfrom8a.m. 24 Stewards Spotlight to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday, 14 Local 25 Supports 26 Pensioners and one hour before and one hour after the monthly meetings. Governor’s Casino Plan 27 In Memoriam The Casino Plan Would Address The store will accept cash, Many Challenges Facing the State 28 Retiree Chapter News credit card or debit card. For more information call 22 Local 25 Raises $170,000 (617) 241-9687 to Fight Autism Autism Gala a Success The Spokesman Sean M. O'Brien, President/Principal Officer Mark A. Harrington Philip H. Mallett Tim Madden Robert Fabrizio George Slicis Dave Pietroforte Secretary-Treasurer Recording Secretary Trustee Business Agent Business Agent Business Agent John A. Murphy Jackie Addison John Jay Manley Tom Mari Bob McAllister Steven R. Sullivan Vice President/ Trustee Trustee Business Agent Business Agen Director of Organizing Business Agent and Government Affairs Statement of Ownership, Management & Circulation Date of Filing: Location of Office: Ownership: Paid and/or requested Total Distribution: January 7, 2008 544 Main Street Local 25 Teamsters Union Circulation: None 15,000 Title of Publication: Boston, MA 02129 544 Main Street Boston, Free Distribution Copies not Distributed: The Spokesman Total: 15,000 MA 02129 by Mail: 14,348 652 (office use..etc) Frequency of Issue: Editor & Managing Total # Copies: 15,000 Free Distribution Quarterly Editor: Sean M. O’Brien Outside the Mail: 652 8420_Local25_Winter08.qxp 4/11/08 3:16 PM Page 3 Message from thePresident Dear Brothers and Sisters: Although we are only about a quarter of the way into 2008, things have been very busy so far this year. In early February, after weeks of intense negotiations, ballots for the National Master Freight Agreement were counted. I’m proud to say that our freight members voted 430 to 72 to ratify the national contract and 427 to 72 to ratify the New England Supplement. Our freight members realize that the industry is facing very difficult times, and that this contract will provide them with job security and benefit protec- tionsforthenextfiveyears. National Freight Division Director Tyson Johnson called the agreement a “landmark contract,”and I agree. I want to thank all our freight members who got involved in the contract campaign, and I’d also We need to create like to thank Vice President John Murphy for all his hard work during negotiations. more family-wage Another great campaign, the UPS Freight campaign, got off to a winning start here in New England. I’m proud to report that Local 25 was one of seven regional local unions to submit cards to the arbitrator. jobs in the Bay Our members have now been certified and contract negotiations were under way at press time. Our members are among more than 8,000 workers who have submitted cards in this historic campaign. State—more It was great seeing many of you on Saturday, March 8 for our “Light Up the Night” gala for autism at Teamster jobs so the Boston Convention Center. More than 800 people attended and we raised nearly $175,000 in the fight against autism, a brain development disorder. I thank everyone who came out to the gala to sup- that families will port such a worthy cause. have a fighting If you’ve been to the movies recently, you know Boston has become an increasingly popular place for Hollywood productions. Some are saying Boston is getting the reputation as “Hollywood East.” chance.” The Teamsters Local 25 Movie Crew is instrumental in the success of the Boston film industry. We con- tinue to do our part to secure more movies in Massachusetts and more in Boston specifically. We are –SEAN M. O'BRIEN achieving this without sacrificing any wages or working conditions, so that our members prosper along PRESIDENT/ with our reputation. I will continue to help build on this success so that Hollywood producers will con- PRINCIPAL tinue to speak highly of the Local 25 Movie Crew. This is good for all members of Local 25. OFFICER Finally, you have probably read or watched television reports about Gov. Deval Patrick’s support of building three destination casinos to be built in different regions of the state. We strongly support the governor’s plan, and we urge our members to do the same. The plan will cre- ate thousands of new jobs, many of which could be Teamster jobs—drivers, casino workers, hotel workers, etc. This is good for the economy and good for working families. Critics will be louder and louder as the plan gets scrutinized, but I urge you to weigh the pros and cons and carefully examine the need to create good-paying jobs in our troubled economy. It was just announced that union membership is down in Massachusetts, a very disturbing development. We need to create more family-wage jobs in the Bay State—more Teamster jobs so that families will have a fight- ing chance. Fraternally, Sean M. O'Brien President/Principal Officer www.teamsterslocal25.com | WINTER 2008 | The SPOKESMAN | 1 8420_Local25_Winter08.qxp 4/11/08 3:16 PM Page 4 Business Agent Dedicated to Our Local Union Members Secretary-Treasurer Vice-President and Mark Harrington Business Agent John Murphy Ihaveconcludednegotiations with the New Penn mechanics. Negotiations: We had set up a The package includes increases negotiation meeting on March to the foreman rate, tool 28 for our clerical members at allowance and reclassifying two DHL/Global, and we finalized mechanics to higher classifica- some dates to do the national tions which will result in significant pay increases for the agreement, which will take place April 23-30. Master individuals involved. We also picked up the NMFA wage Freight clerical negotiations will begin sometime in late and benefit package. Aprilaswell. I am also in negotiations with the majority of the oil- Freight: I was recently in Sarasota, Florida and Dallas related companies. We have more than 20 collective bar- with all the regional freight directors. We went over the gaining agreements with the respective companies. We are role of the utility man, as Yellow Freight will put together striving to maintain our top standing in this industry in the first Change of Operation, which will affect the New terms of compensation and working conditions. I want to England area. We just added a new position of tanker thank all the stewards and negotiating teams who are man at our Boston Tow group, which will pay $27.50 per assisting me in those talks. hour and have all benefits under our contract. I have been appointed to the Eastern Region Carhaul I was in New Orleans at the end of March to discuss negotiating committee by General President Jim Hoffa the possiblity of extending line haul and subcontracting and I look forward to serving on that committee. The work for our UPS/Cartage members. carhaul contract will be quite a challenge as the two largest DHL: The DHL negotiations are over and Business companies, Allied and Performance Transportation, con- Agent Mari and I were in Sarasota for the two-person tinue to struggle financially. committee. This local union is supporting the agreement I have recently been given a new assignment by 100 percent because we believe that it is the best deal for President Sean O’Brien. I am now representing Aggregate all our members, it protects our supplemental condi- Industry’s cement drivers and yard personnel at their three tions, language and benefits. I wrapped up the DHL locations. I look forward to this opportunity. I would like Clerical in late March. to acknowledge members at the two companies I am giv- Public Services Division: Negotiations for our ing up—Sonepar/ Northeast Electrical. I enjoyed the great Massport Service Maintenance employees will start the challenge those companies presented. We were able to first week in May. We are planning a steward meeting achieve first contracts in both those battles. I will never next month with our workers’ compensation lawyer. We forget our great victory at Northeast where we withstood a will have dinner and talk about how to protect our mem- lockout, replacement workers and constant harassment by bers’ rights. Also, there will be a fundraiser for Michael the Canton police only to emerge victorious with a strong Leahy’s family at Florian Hall in Dorchester on May 23, contract. from 7 p.m. to midnight. The tickets are $25 and there I want to thank the members for their continued will be raffles and an auction, plus other entertainment. support. Credit Union: Our credit union staff has been talking to many members this winter about their finances. Many members get pressured at car dealers and sign for high- rate financing. In the last year the credit union refi- nanced more car loans than new car loans. We lowered 2 | The SPOKESMAN | WINTER 2008 | www.teamsterslocal25.com 8420_Local25_Winter08.qxp 4/11/08 3:16 PM Page 5 Reports members’ interest rates by an average of 5 percent.