Summer 2006 - Teamsters Local #118
Transcription
Summer 2006 - Teamsters Local #118
Teamsters Local 118 - News You Can Use - www.teamsterslocal118. Summer 2006 - VOLUME 2, ISSUE 2 2006 Ernie Moyer - Teamsters Local 118 Scholarships Awarded at May Meeting T eamsters Local 118 in partnership with Ernie Moyer’s family awarded five $1,000 scholarships to children of active or retired Teamsters of Local 118 at this May’s Membership Meeting. President Steve Mazza and Vince Moyer presented each of the scholarship winners a certificate of achievement. Jacob Stevens and his mother and father. Jacob’s father, Terry works at Wegmans Food Markets. This year’s winners were: Jessica Castrechino - Daughter of Anthony Castrechino of Upstate Farms Donielle Peck - Daughter of Donald Peck of Wegmans Food Markets Philip Pietrantoni - Son of Peter Pietrantoni of the Greece School District Rozetta Smith thanks the members of Local 118 for her scholarship award as Board Members Paul Markwitz and Gene DeLorme look on. Rozetta Smith - Daughter of Gerald Montanaro of the Greece School District Jacob Stevens - Son of Terry Stevens of Wegmans Food Markets T he International Brotherhood of Teamsters offers 100 scholarhips awards each year. Sixty-nine are for $1,000 and thirty-one are for $10,000. Information on the 2007-2008 JRH Memorial Scholarship Fund for high school seniors graduating in 2007 will be available in October 2006. Please visit this site for more info: http://www.teamster.org/resources/ students/scholarship/scholarship.htm President Steve Mazza, Philip Pietrantoni, Jessica Castrechino, Jacob Stevens, Rozetta Smith, Donielle Peck, Vince Moyer Teamsters Local 118 - Rochester, New York (585) 256-1350 - 1393 South Ave., Rochester, NY 14620 - Page International Brotherhood of Teamsters 2006 Convention T he International Brotherhood of Teamsters closed its 27th International Convention on June 30th with unprecedented solidarity and determination to embark on the ambitious goals set this week to expand Teamster power. “We are moving forward together,” said Jim Hoffa, Teamsters General President. “We have accomplished so much because we are united like never before and we are stronger than ever before. But there’s more to do. We are changing to grow and we will not rest until we have won our fight.” More than 7,000 Teamster delegates, retirees and guests gathered in Las Vegas this week under the banner of “Moving Forward Together” to tackle a range of constitutional and policy issues that set the future course of the 1.4 millionmember Teamsters Union. The week’s accomplishments were particularly impressive with the major announcement of a card-check agreement at UPS Freight that will provide a massive boost to the Teamsters organizing efforts at the former Overnight Transportation. Also announced was an agreement by UPS to the Teamsters’ demand for early negotiations for the 2008 National Master United Parcel Service Over 30 Local Owned Trucks Hold Spontaneous Parade on Main Street in Las Vegas. Senator John Edwards delivers rousing speech to IBT Delegates. Delegates rise in support of Hoffa-Keegel led intitatives to strengthen the IBT. Joint Council #18 President John Bulgaro stands next in line to speak in support of changes to our Constitution. General Secretary-Treasurer C. Thomas Keegel speaks at Convention. Terry O’Sullivan, President of the Laborer’s International Union spoke to the Delegates and their guests during the Convention. Known for his rousing speeches, he had everyone on their feet for the duration. Brother O’Sullivan also co-chairs the Change to Win Coalition and has committed to the Teamsters Union to increase Union membership and clout throughout the United States. Teamsters Local 118 - Rochester, New York (585) 256-1350 - 1393 South Ave., Rochester, NY 14620 - Delegates Chris Toole and Kevin McIntosh with Eastern Regional Warehouse Director Dan Kane. JOINT COUNCIL #46! Page Delegates ignore TDU speeches, more intent on Convention Newsletters. Fred Carter, of Local 687 shows his disgust with their words. (front) Dan Almekinder, Gene DeLorme, Mike Jarosinski, Steve Mazza. (back) Mike Maynard, Paul Markwitz, TIm Barbeto and Jim Miley. Joint Council 46 President Ron Lucas, bottom left along with fellow JC#46 Delegates, including our own President Mazza with Kevin McIntosh and Paul Markwitz General President Hoffa at a pre-convention rally. Can you spot John Emrich and Paul Markwitz? The guy under the camera is our very own Tim Barbeto. Puerto Rican Delegates take to the Convention Floor in a show of Unity. Teamsters Local 118 - Rochester, New York (585) 256-1350 - 1393 South Ave., Rochester, NY 14620 - Message from the President I Steve Mazza have just returned from the 27th IBT Convention and I can’t help but feel a renewed sense of resolve and purpose. First, I would like to thank our members for continuing to place their trust in me and my officers by sending us to the 27th Convention. It is gratifying to see that you believe as I do, we are certainly headed in the right direction. The IBT Conventions are serious events. Delegates, elected by rank and file members throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico are entrusted to meet, discuss and come up with a five year plan for the Teamsters. In addition, we had the privilege of choosing candidates for the International Election this November. From the number of delegates President Hoffa and his team recieved and from the sea of ‘red shirts’ that filled the convention floor, it was evident that this was his week. I was proud to cast my vote in support of James P. Hoffa, C. Thomas Keegel and their complement of Vice-Presidents. In 1999, when they took office, our International had less than $10 million in net assets. Our strike fund was nonexistent and organizing was an afterthought. Today, our Union has over $100 million in assets and a dedicated strike fund that pays real wages. Our Organizing Department has hit every section of the labor movement. Police, teachers and more now call themselves Teamsters because of President Hoffa’s new organizing vision. We have added over 150,000 new Teamsters by merging with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees and the Graphic Communicators International Union. President Hoffa has had a clear vision for the Teamsters and he has seen to it that this vision has been fulfilled. His vision for the future is even more bold. He has pledged the following: •Increased efforts to organize DHL, Waste Management and FedEx. •Adoption of sweeping reforms to prevent any and all types of discrimination. •A concerted action with the GCC to organize Quebecor World Workers. •Continued fiscal responsibility. •To fight to allow FedEx the right to organize. •To take a hard line stand against cross-border trucking. •To organize all port workers, to stop spread of low wages and dangerous working conditions. •To improved retirement security so that all Teamsters may retire with dignity. •To continue to support UNITE HERE and their drive to organize CINTAS. All these resolutions were passed unanimously by the delegates. What an agenda! But I know Continued on page 10 Page Teamsters Local 118 Executive Board Steven S. Mazza President, PEO Eugene A. DeLorme Vice-President Christopher P. Toole Secretary-Treasurer Ronald D. Hill Recording Secretary Paul A. Markwitz Trustee, Business Agent David W. Weilert Trustee Richard T. Militello Trustee BTA Federal Credit Union Tiffany Cooper - President 1320 Buffalo Rd., Suite 104 Rochester, NY 14624 (585) 328-0340 (585) 955-4744 call anytime teller (585) 328-1391 FAX Hours 10:00am - 4:00pm Monday,Tuesday,Thursday,Friday 10:00am-5:00pm Wednesday Teamsters Local 118 - Rochester, New York (585) 256-1350 - 1393 South Ave., Rochester, NY 14620 - TBusiness he Bonadio Group Consulting & More Chuck Constantino & Bonadio Financial Services, LLC INSURANCE—INVESTMENTS—FINANCIAL PLANNING 585-249-2882 or cconstantino@bonadio.com Securities and Investment Advisor services offered through Charles A. Constantino II As a Registered Representative and Investment Advisor Representative of 1717 Capital management Company, P.O. Box 15626, Wilmington, DE 19850 (302) 453-3800. A Registered Investment Advisor. Member NASD, SIPC. A Nationwide Financial Company. Representative of nationwide Life Insurance Company of America and other companies. Bonadio Financial Services is not an affiliate of Nationwide Financial or its subsidiaries. New Penn Drivers Help Avert Disaster R Page 2006 Labor Day Parade September 4, 2006 is the date of this year’s Labor Day Parade. Teamsters will assemble at the corner of Alexander and East Ave, starting at 10:00 a.m. If you would like tens of thousands of viewers to know you work for a Union Compnay, then volunteer to participate in this year’s parade. Don’t let your Company be ignored! Marchers, Truck Drivers and their families are welcome! Show your UNION SOLIDARITY! Show your TEAMSTER PRIDE! ochester road drivers Dan Schrader and Bobby Ruth, Jr. assisted at an accident scene and may have prevented further serious injury and even death by their actions. The two drivers were westbound on the NY State Thruway about 4:45 a.m. Brother Schrader was changing lanes when he noticed a set of doubles ahead of him going all over the road. As he slowed down, the next thing he saw was a demolished car sitting in the middle of the left lane. He was able to avoid a collision with the car, which contained an eight month old baby and a young girl. The driver had apparently fallen asleep at the wheel and struck a parked tractor trailer along the shoulder. Brother Ruth stopped behind the car and both men immediately rescued the baby who was still in the car seat. Brother Ruth removed his shirt and wrapped the baby up while Brother Schrader tended to the driver. “Both drivers should be commended for their quick action.”, said Business Agent Ron Hill, “Despite the presence of leaking gas, neither hesitated to offer help despite the very real risk of a fire”. “I think this is a perfect example of the extreme professionalism all our freight drivers share”, Agent Hill adds, “public safety is something these workers practice every day, and Brothers Schrader and Ruth should be proud of what they did.” Teamsters Local 118 - Rochester, New York (585) 256-1350 - 1393 South Ave., Rochester, NY 14620 - Teamsters Local 118 Business Agents Office Staff Kevin M. McIntosh Business Agent Michael C. Jarosinski Business Agent John C. Emrich Business Agent Sharon A. Johnson Bookkeeper Sylvia Bona Secretary Patti Morales TITAN Operator Debbie Baroody D Page an Almekinder manning the cutter! Dan, along with Dan Leach and Lanny Hall, are the Union Stewards at Unisource. Dan Almekinder is also a Conductor for Local 118. Teamsters Local 118 - Rochester, New York (585) 256-1350 - 1393 South Ave., Rochester, NY 14620 - Page Jim Hughes and Ken Kress Unisource Driver Jeff Kane U Ron Mykins, looking for trouble? nisource is the leading independent marketer and distributor of commercial printing and business imaging papers, packaging systems and facility supplies and equipment in North America. With more than 100 distribution centers with a fleet of 2000 trucks, Unisource can deliver what your business needs when you want it - locally, regionally and nationally. Our knowledgeable field sales professionals work with customers to identify the right solution for their business needs, whether it’s a large-scale press run, a specialty packaging line, or compliance with health and safety requirements. Supporting our sales professionals is a team of skilled customer service representatives, product performance guarantees, technical training, consolidated billing and customized reporting… all to add value to our customer relationships and improving operating efficiency. We offer the widest product selection in our industry, allowing customers to reduce suppliers, simplify the ordering process and lower the total cost of acquisition through savings in working capital, excess handling costs and inventory loss. -From The Unisource Website Teamsters Local 118 - Rochester, New York (585) 256-1350 - 1393 South Ave., Rochester, NY 14620 - Page Wegmans Food Markets and Teamsters Local 118 Reach Seven Year Deal Christopher Toole Secretary Treasurer A fter nearly five months of intense negotiations, Teamsters Local 118 and Wegmans Food Markets have ratified a seven year deal. The Company offered no proposals but entrusted the team of 20+ Union Stewards, Assistant Stewards, Business Agents and Officers to rebuild their contract from the ground up. Seniority rules were simplified, the driving language was rewritten under two articles to cover either mileage drivers or performance drivers. Policies and verbal agreements were reduced to writing and placed in the contract to avoid future confusion. These and much more were added to the contract. In addition, for the first time in the history of a Wegmans Teamsters contract, we have yearly increases to the pension contributions. Not only that, but after a vote, our members will be entitled to move money from their wages into the pension should they decide to do so. Your Union Stewards worked weekends and evenings ensuring every issue was addressed and the finished contract showed this attention to detail. Your negotiation committee saw to it that every member received a survey prior to negotiations, and four proposal meetings were held to obtain any additions or deletions to the new contract. Once the contract was finished, your committee mailed a finished copy of the new contract with all the changes, additions and deletions for review. Four meetings were held to discuss these changes and a secret vote was held a few days later. This vote was in overwhelming support of the contract. The Wegmans contract is one of the most important in the Teamster’s Warehouse Division where it is used as a template for other contracts. The credit for this contract belongs to President Steve Mazza , Business Agent Kevin McIntosh and the Negotiaiton Committee for their years of service at Wegmans and their dedication to the members. The following members made up the Negotiation Committee. Their hard work and diligence paid off in the finest contract ever to come out of Wegmans. They fought for every word and every nickel and they always had the best interests of the members in mind. For Transportation David Moran David Ferris Richard Militello Michael Figliotti Gary Muoio Jermaine Owen Christopher Camelio Stephen Hart For Warehousing Alfred Honan Robert Knapp Jeffery Breedlove David Weilert Anthony Wells Terry Ashford David Putnam Daniel Farley Andrew Legno Richard Gallo For Skilled Trades Timothy Barbeto Congratulations to all! Teamsters Local 118 - Rochester, New York (585) 256-1350 - 1393 South Ave., Rochester, NY 14620 - Page Teamsters and UPS Reach Historic Agreement A s your CoChair on the UPS Negotiation Committee and a proud Delegate Gene DeLorme to the 2006 IBT Vice-President Convention, I looked forward to IBT VicePresident/Parcel & Small Package Division Director Ken Hall’s speech on UPS. Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined what he was about to say. During the 1997 strike I had the good fortune of being the Chief Steward at the building on Nausau Street. As in all the centers under Local 118’s jurisdiction, our solidarity was strong, and our resolve to win this strike never wavered. Well our perserverance paid off, and we received one of the finest contracts to date. The thought then was that the Teamsters would never improve on the ‘97 contract in 2002. The truth of the matter was, your Officers, Business Agents, Union Stewards and rank and file members obtained a $10 billion dollar contract from UPS in 2002 versus the $4.7 billion deal in 1997! In addition to that, we received a guarantee of 10,000 new jobs, a revision of the cost of living language, overtime protection and new technology language. During the past six months the IBT did a scientific poll of all UPSers. The results of this poll were that the members demanded UPS open the contract early and begin negotiations immediately. With the precarious state of some of the pension funds across the country, the unresolved issues concerning excessive overtime and the real threat of lost business to rival competitors during negotiations, the members clearly understood the need to negotiate now. During the Convention, VP Hall announced that UPS has agreed to come to the table early. This was perhaps the biggest event in Teamster history concerning their relationship with UPS and I was there to share it! It wasn’t done yet. Vice-President Tyson Johnson, Director of the Freight Division got up to give his speech. Because I was still in shock over Ken Hall’s announcement, I almost missed Tyson’s knockout punch. Together he and Ken Hall announced that UPS has agreed to card check neutrality with Overnight, now called UPS Freight. Years of hard work have paid off. The Teamsters were finally going to get the chance to organize Overnight! Those fifteen minutes were the biggest of my career as a Teamster. I couldn’t wait to get back and share the news with everyone. We recently held a meeting with the members of UPS Freight, where we discussed the IBT’s strategy for the future. There were many questions about our pension, their job status and other issues. Our Local has committed to these workers, that we will continue to follow the IBT’s direction and will work together to obtain recognition by UPS that UPS Freight workers are Teamsters. Once that is done we win a strong contract that will ensure these workers earn the wages and receive the benefits all UPS Teamsters have long been proud of. Teamsters Local 118 - Rochester, New York (585) 256-1350 - 1393 South Ave., Rochester, NY 14620 - Page Clear Channel & TV-13 Settle Contract T V-13 ratified a three year agreement last month. One of the main sticking points during negotiations was the threat of lost work to programing. In addition, cellular phones are becoming more popular as a tool to recieve constant news coverage, sports updates, etc. Currently this work is not part of their contract and Union Stewards Terry Hancock and Matt Robinson fought tirelessly to include it. Due Josh Saunders on the tape decks. webcasting, podcasting and cellular streaming. Many mass media outlets are using the internet more and more to supplement their TV network Cameramen (l to r) Steve Barnes and Mike Barnes ... or is it Mike and Steve? TV-13 Union Stewards Matt Robinson & Terry Hancock to their work, significant inroads were made to protect their jobs in the future should new work materialize in these new fields. In addition to those protections, they were also able to obtain significant increases in wages and bring two new members into the Union from other departments. Continued from page 4 Message From the President that the Teamsters are up for it and I know that Local 118 is too! Our merger with Local 791, our recent organizing victories; the Village of Pittsford, Palmer Foods and NES to name but a few, our continued fight with DHL, FedEx and Waste Management for membership recognition reflect this. Our first time contracts and the benefits we offer our members are a clear indication that we support President Hoffa’s agenda. In fact, not only do we support it, but in many cases our Local, it’s Officers and it’s Business Agents surpass his vision. But all this wouldn’t be possible without your help. The contract proposal and ratification meetings that you attend, prove your interest in your workplace. The rallys you attend in support of other Unions and the organizing efforts you participate in only make our jobs that much easier. The simple things like talking to new members, standing behind fellow workers and voting in elections go a long way to building Local 118 solidarity and support. All this wouldn’t have been possible without Faraci & Lange your trust. Because of this trust, so many goals Premium Legal Services at for Local 118 have been met. Because you have Special Union Rates continued to support myself and my team through the years, our Local has become a force to be Prepaid Legal Benefit Plans for Teamsters reckoned with. Discounted rates for legal And that force has helped President Hoffa forge services one of the strongest, fastest growing International Outside the prepaid plan Unions in the world. With Thanks and In Solidarity, Steven S. Mazza Firm contact: Vincent M. Moyer 585-458-2800 ext. 314 888-697-8527 vmoyer@faraci.com Teamsters Local 118 - Rochester, New York (585) 256-1350 - 1393 South Ave., Rochester, NY 14620 - Get a Withdrawal Card When You Leave Your Job Be Sure you request a withdrawal card when being laid-off, going on leave of absence, or terminating your employment. There is no charge for a withdrawal card, but all initiation fees and back dues must be paid before the withdrawal card is issued. Stop by or call the office to obtain your withdrawal card. ,It is your responsibility to obtain a withdrawal card so please take care of it as soon as possible after leaving the company, so that you will not be obligated to pay extra dues. Failure to request a withdrawal card may cause you to pay back dues & reinitiations. In accordance with Article XVIII, Section 6(i) of the IBT Constitution, “it shall be compulsory for any active member on withdrawal card to deposit his withdrawal card immediately upon return to employment at the craft” Page Upcoming Events Labor Day Parade September 4, 2006 All marchers and drivers please meet at the corner of East Ave. and Alexander St. by 10:00 a.m. General Membership Meeting September 6, 2006 All members of Teamsters Local 118 are welcome Wishing Well Party House 1190 Chili Ave. 8:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Every First Wednesday of the month through May Teamsters Local 118 Clambake October 1, 2006 Minet Hall - Dome Arena Sunday 1:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Member Tickets - $25 Guest Tickets - $50 O Workers with the Town of Gates paving on a State job in ne of the fastest growing divisions in the Teamsters are the workers in the Highway Departments for the various Towns and Villages in the area. Many of these Townships are too small for the CSEA to go after, but find the Teamsters fit their needs when it comes to representation. Local 118 currently represents workers in Brighton, Gates, Niles, Rose, Sennett, Skaneateles, Lyons, Pittsford, Sodus Point and Wolcott. Teamsters Local 118 - Rochester, New York (585) 256-1350 - 1393 South Ave., Rochester, NY 14620 - Page We’re Moving! Teamsters Local 118 will be moving into a new office building in October 2006. This will allow us to consolidate our office personnel from South Avenue and Buffalo Road into one location, to better serve our membership. Our office in Auburn, NY will remain open at this time. Ron Hill and Sylvia Bona will remain at this location. Our phone and fax numbers will remain the same, our new address will be: Teamsters Local #118 130 Metro Park Rochester, NY 14623 T Teamsters eamsters L Local ocal 118 118 -- F Fighting ighting for for Y Your our F Future uture Teamsters Local # 118 1393 South Avenue Rochester, NY 14620 NON PROFIT PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ROCHESTER, NY PERMIT NO. 443