Steven S. Mazza
President, B.A.

Eugene A. DeLorme
Vice-President, B.A.

Christopher P. Toole
Secretary-Treasurer, B.A.

Ronald D. Hill
Recording Secretary, B.A.

Paul A. Markwitz
Trustee, B.A.

David W. Weilert
Trustee

Richard T. Militello
Trustee

Kevin M. McIntosh
Business Agent

Steven J. Becker
Business Agent

Michael C. Jarosinski
Business Agent

John C. Emrich
Business Agent

Current Events Around the IBT

Clink on a link to see what's going on within the various divisions of the Teamster Union

Beer & Beverage Division
Building Trades & Construction Division
Freight Division
Public Sector
Small Parcel Division
Warehouse Division
White Paper Agreements
Political Action

BEER & BEVERAGE DIVISION

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BUILDING TRADES & CONSTRUCTION DIVISION

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FREIGHT DIVISION

Howard's Express on Strike

Notice to all members of Teamsters Local 118 members. Howard's Express is being struck by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, this strike has been in effect since May 29, 2003. All sightings of Howard's Express trucks should be reported to the Union Hall immediatly.

Local 118 is proud to report that not one member crossed the picket line. "I would like to thank the men for standing together for this fight.", stated President Mazza.

Numerous charges of unfair labor practices have been leveled against Howard's Express, as well as reported investigations of theft and fraud by the company against it's employees.

Stop here to view pictures of their picket line in front of Howard's Express Headquarters in Geneva, NY.

Airborne Shareholders Approve Sale to DHL Teamsters In Position to Protect Members’ Interests

Airborne Inc. shareholders have overwhelmingly approved the sale of the company’s ground-delivery operations to DHL.

About 88 percent of votes cast favored the $1.05 billion sale. However, the proposed sale is still under review by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

In July, the Teamsters National Freight Industry Negotiating Committee and Airborne reached a settlement on a new collective bargaining agreement. Airborne has agreed to the terms of the 2003-08 National Master Freight Agreement and applicable supplements with a re-opener on the third year on all provisions, except for wages and health, welfare and pension contribution rate increases.

The re-opener will allow the union to protect the best interests of the members if, as is expected, the pending purchase of Airborne by DHL is approved and operations are merged. In the event that the parties cannot reach agreement during the re-opener negotiations, both Airborne and the union will have the right to all economic recourse to support their positions.

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PUBLIC SECTOR

Winning in Warwick

A unit of 10 borough employees in Warwick Township, Pennsylvania, voted 7-2 to join Teamsters Local 830 in an election sponsored by the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board.

The workers, who perform such maintenance tasks as snowplowing and landscaping, turned back a last-minute anti-union campaign by management in their struggle to maintain their wages and benefits, according to Local 830 President Joseph Brock, Jr.

The Warwick Township victory marks four wins in a row for the Philadelphia union.

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SMALL PARCEL DIVISION

UPS Worker Takes on Management for Doing Teamster Work

Local 767 Member Wins $1,400 in Penalty Pay; 50 Other Cases Pending

Denise Tolman, a Local 767 member who works at United Parcel Service (UPS), won more than $1,400 in penalty pay levied against the company for allowing supervisors to perform bargaining-unit work.

Tolman, who has worked at the Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport for two years, filed a grievance against UPS after she was sent home, and supervisors did what would have been her work. The contract clearly prohibits supervisors from doing Teamster work, and Tolman prevailed during a recent local grievance hearing.

"As part of our local's plan to educate our members, we handed out contract books to our UPS workers," said Wesley Jenkins, President of Local 767 in Forest Hill, Texas. "Denise took advantage of that, and read and learned the contract. She really took the bull by its horns and held the company accountable."

"Denise really stepped up," added Chris Trowbridge, a Local 767 Business Agent. "We need more people to do that, and we have that happening. There are approximately 50 other grievances pending over the same issue. We sent out the message that we will not tolerate supervisors doing bargaining-unit work."

UPS Settles Lawsuit Filed by Deaf Employees Teamster Members to Receive Monetary Damages

United Parcel Service has agreed to pay $10 million to more than 1,000 current and former deaf employees to settle a discrimination lawsuit, and Teamster leaders hailed the decision.

The company will pay $4.1 million in lawyers’ fees and distribute $5.8 million to the plaintiffs. The plaintiffs will likely receive payments ranging from $5,000 to $60,000.

In the settlement announced July 21, UPS also promised to provide deaf workers with effective communications, including interpreters, for interviews, orientation, training, safety meetings and disciplinary meetings.

“We’re pleased that UPS will take steps to better accommodate hearing impaired workers, ” said Ken Hall, Director of the Teamsters Parcel and Small Package Division. “These workers have the right to be accommodated under the Americans with Disabilities Act.”

The settlement was announced after six weeks of trial in a federal courtroom in San Francisco. At the trial, Babaranti Oloyede, a member of Local 70 in Oakland, California, testified that UPS refused to provide him with an interpreter during numerous meetings and training sessions.

“Now that the legal case has been settled, we are moving ahead with a grievance that was filed in December 2000 over the issue,” said Marty Frates, a Local 70 business agent. The grievance has been pending while the legal case proceeded.

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WAREHOUSE DIVISION

Fast Facts : Did you know that Wegmans Food Markets is listed as Number 20 of the 50 largest supermarket chains? Wegmans sales were $400 Million less than the two chains ranked above them, yet they did it with HALF the number of stores! WAY TO GO TEAMSTERS!!!

Kentucky Warehouse Workers Join Teamsters Louisville Local Victorious Despite Company’s Anti-Union Campaign
Warehouse workers at a Bowling Green, Kentucky corrugated-box company have voted to join Local 89 in Louisville.

A majority of the 53 workers at Longview Fibre voted August 7 to receive the strong representation that the Teamsters provide. "The company campaigned long and hard against union representation, but our inside committee of employees, including Robby Cornwell, Chris Brandle and Jason Dillihay, continued to get the facts to their co-workers, ensuring a Teamster victory,” said Fred Zuckerman, Local 89 President.

Local 89 will now work to secure a strong contract, according to Organizer Kevin Evans. Getting the company to recognize seniority is a top issue that needs to be addressed.

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WHITE PAPER AGREEMENTS

Adelphia Cable on Stike

To our members. Instead of writing a little paragraph about the Adelphia strike, I would like to submit a letter written to the The Citizen, a newspaper in Auburn, NY. This letter was written by Union Steward Allan Fedyshyn, and it says it all.

My thanks to Allan and his Brothers and Sisters at Adelphia Cable.
Steve Mazza
President
Teamsters Local 118

Labor Day thoughts from the picket line

By Allan Fedyshyn
On June 10, the Teamsters struck against Adelphia Communications. We were forced to stand up for what we deeply believe in, like our grandparents and parents did. If not for them, we would not have the labor standards we now enjoy - a day off, a 40-hour week, safety standards and yes, benefits. If not for unions, we'd probably enjoy working standards that resemble Mexico. We've forgotten the sacrifices that got us Labor Day.

Many have forgotten the people who died on picket lines for the labor cause. We remember the 50s strikes, and the violence. On Jan. 14, 2003, Michelle Rogers, a CWA picketer in Louisville, Ky. was killed on the picket line, leaving behind three daughters.

Today's unions are under assault by corporate America. Since June 10, Adelphia has chosen a "scorched-earth strategy" to battle the union. It has freely spent money against the strike. Remember the limo ride for strikebreakers. Adelphia has spent far more than the contract would have cost.

So what is it all about? Union-busting. Adelphia's goal is to be 100-percent union free. We were told Adelphia would starve us if we struck. God knows they've tried.

Thanks to a community that cares, we haven't gone hungry. Citizens, brothers and sisters of other unions, local businesses donating lunch, water, food and grocery cards have not let us starve. I could never express my gratitude enough. On behalf of all Teamster picketers, thank you and please keep up the good will. Your support is our inspiration to keep walking and praying for a reasonable end to this strike.

A few weeks ago, there was a column in this paper by Gina Colage. She stated "facts" that were untrue. Gina, if everyone thought like you, we'd all be working four jobs to feed our families.

Yes, we're fighting for our pensions. Did you know we've given up raises and, instead, put it in the pension fund?

Did you know we agreed to pay the difference between our present health plan and Adelphia's plan?

Do you have any idea how many concessions were made by the union in negotiations?

Of course not. You weren't there. I don't recall seeing you at the table. Your rendition of the strike just isn't accurate. You are misinformed, at best.

Adelphia didn't put in fiber-optic cable, as you claim. Did you know Auburn Cable was one of the country's first cable companies to launch cable-modems on fiber-optics? Did you know, Auburn Cable was consistently one of the top three systems in the Great Lakes region?

If we should just be thankful to have a job, why be the best? We have pride; we'll never rest until we're America's best system. Our efforts have been rewarded with union busting.

No, Ms. Colage, we're not looking for a free ride. We're asking we be able to support our families We'll work for every penny, as always.

You are right about one thing. The cost of living has gone up. Gina, do you realize folks on the picket line haven't had a raise in four years? And yet, we're one of the best systems Adelphia has.

I hope everyone enjoyed Labor Day, brought to you with pride by the unions of America.

And, again, from the bottom of my heart, we thank you for your continued support and goodwill.

Mr. Fedyshyn, of Auburn, writes as Union Steward, Teamsters Local 118.

Stop by here to see pictures of the Adelphia Stikers in Auburn, NY. Go Back to the TOP.

POLITICAL ACTION IN LOCAL 118

Local 118 Fights for Overtime Rights: A letter from President Mazza

I am writing on behalf of the 2,400 members of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters in Rochester, New York and the surrounding area. I am asking you to contact your senator, congressmen or congresswoman and demand they support an amendment offered by Senator Tom Harkin to the FY 2004 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill. Overtime rights are a hallmark protection for workers. Indeed, it is one that workers have fought for, and some have died for. The Harkin amendment would prevent the Department of Labor (DOL) from issuing any regulation that takes away worker's overtime rights, but would permit DOL to expand overtime protections for low-wage workers. A vote FOR this amendment is of the utmost importance to the Labor movement in the United States.

On March 31, 2003, the DOL proposed a regulation that would make millions of workers ineligible for overtime pay under the Fair Lobar Standards Act (FLSA). This proposed rule is not only anti-worker; it is anti-family and curbs full employment. It forces workers to work overtime without compensation, leading to longer workweeks and less time with their families. If employers do not have to pay overtime compensation, or indeed any compensation for over 40 hours, employees will be right back where they began before the Fair Labor Standards Act was enacted in 1938!

In the future you may hear that this bill will not affect you because of your status as a union member. This is untrue. Many of our contracts simply reference the FLSA, and when your contract expires you can be sure you will be asked to make many concessions just to preserve your overtime pay, a benefit that has been guaranteed to you since 1938. For the average working family, overtime accounts for almost 25% of their income.

Workers stripped of this overtime will be forced to work longer hours to make up this shortfall. Under the DOL's proposal it would be easier for a company to 'reclassify' workers as 'white collar' employees ineligible for overtime. The FLSA requires employers to pay their employees a cash premium for overtime work, but provides an exception for executive, administrative and professional positions. The DOL proposal would dramatically loosen the criteria for those exceptions.

We must rally to the cause. Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa is leading the charge and I am asking you to contact your Senator and demand they join Senator Harkin in this fight to preserve our overtime rights. Ask them to support the S. 1356 - Harkin Amendment on behalf of all working families in the United States.

Please contact your senators at the following addresses:

Honorable Charles E. Schumer
United States Senate
313 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
(202) 224-6542
e-mail:senator@schumer.senate.gov

Honorable Hillary Clinton
United States Senate
476 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
(202) 224-4451
e-mail:senator@clinton.senate.gov

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