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
John C. Emrich
Business Agent
PAST NEWS EVENTS FOR LOCAL 118 IN 2004
Rochester, NY Labor Day Parade Brings Out the Community
First Meeting of the 2004-2005 Year
...on a further note!
New Scholarship Program
The Executive Board of Teamster's Local 118 is proud to present the 'Ernie Moyer Scholarship Program'. This Fund is being set up with the Moyer family to reward the children of Local 118 Teamsters for their hard work in school. The Ernie Moyer Scholarship Fund will be a charitable organization set up to receive donations from the Moyer Family, the Executive Board of Local 118 and various other corporate sponsors. These donations will be tax deductable, which should encourage support from outside sources. The Fund will set aside a certain number of $1,000 scholarships every year to the children of working and retired Teamsters in Local 118. Applications will be accepted from January 1 - March 31 every year. At the April membership meeting the winners will be selected by a random drawing. The number of scholarships awarded will depend on the amount of money available that year. At the May membership meeting, a check will be presented to the winners. "This is one of the finest programs our Local has ever started," said President Steve Mazza, " to have it named after our longest sitting President's and to have their family take an active part in this Fund is just another example of where our Local is headed." As more information becomes available, we will inform the members. Look for the rules and applications this December.NES Rentals is ORGANIZED!
Congratulations to Vice-President Gene DeLorme and his organizers on another victory for Local 118! Vice-President DeLorme was able to add another company to the Local 118 family despite great pressure from the company to stop this drive at any costs. NES Rentals is part of Albany Ladder, many of their other locations are already Union. Despite this, the company pulled out all the tricks to keep Rochester non-Union. "It's real shame that I get every employee in Rochester to sign a card asking for Union recognition, the rest of the company is already Union and the company STILL fights to keep us out." said Vice-President DeLorme. Well, obviously it didn't matter. After many meetings, phone calls and house visits, Gene and his ORGANIZING MACHINE had the last laugh. Welcome to our newest members!Local 118 Unveils a New Sign!
LABOR DAY PARADE
LOCAL MEMBER RECEIVES SCHOLARSHIP
Jonathan Davis is presented with a gold watch and a $10,000 scholarship from President Steve Mazza.
U.S.F. Shuts down Red Star Operations
Former Secretary-Treasurer
John J. Cantwell Passes Away
John J. Cantwell. Brother Cantwell was a member of Local 118 for over thirty years, serving as Secretary-Treasurer from 1993 until his retirement last year. He is survived by his wife Cheryl; daughter Lauren and her boyfriend, Dan Broadwell; parents, Robert Sr. (Doris) Cantwell; mother and father-in-law, John & Marilyn Mapes; brothers and sisters, Linda (James) Wolfe, Robert Jr. (Donna) Cantwell, Louise (Thomas) Kelsey, Lorraine (Ken) Rogers, Kelly (Sharon) Cantwell, nieces and nephews, friends and many, many loyal Teamster brothers and sisters.
Results of the Officer's Election for Teamster's Local #118
| President, Business Agent | Steve Mazza | 703 |
| Mike LaRocca | 395 | |
| Vice-President, Business Agent | Gene DeLorme | Unopposed |
| Secretary-Treasurer, Business Agent | Chris Toole | 679 |
| Jack Hayes | 417 | |
| Recording Secretary | Ron Hill | Unopposed |
| Trustee | Dick Militello | 685 |
| Dave Weilert | 676 | |
| Roland Truelove | 664 | |
| Blair Kenny | 406 | |
| Jerry Biller | 370 | |
| Scott Wetzel | 331 | |
| Bryan Meyers | 92 |
Christopher Toole
Secretary-Treasurer
Teamsters Local 118
ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARTY
Saturday, December 6, 2003Flu Shot Clinic
We would like to thank all those who participated in this year's flu clinic.
We had one of the best turn outs yet! Good luck and Good Health!
Teamsters Local 118
ANNUAL CLAMBAKE
Sunday October 12 th, 2003We look forward to next year!
Former Secretary-Treasurer
Robert R. Porter Passes Away
President Frank Posato Retires
On July 31, 2003 after 42 years of service, Frank Posato has announced his retirement from Teamsters Local 118. Frank Posato was elected as President in 1988 where he has faithfully served the members in Rochester, Auburn, Batavia and the surrounding areas. Frank was Co-Chairman of the Upstate NY Pension Fund as well as the Health & Hospital Fund. It was in no small part due to Frank's work that our Pension Fund has enjoyed the success it has. Benefits such as the 30-and-out, past credited service as well as defined benefits far surpassing those of other pension funds are but a few of Frank's accomplisments. Frank was also on the UPS National Negotiating Committee as well as many regional contract negotiation committees. President Mazza wishes to express his gratitude for Frank's 42 years of service and he wishes Frank and his family the very best in his retirement. Steve Mazza has been appointed by the Executive Board to assume the position of President of Local 118. Gene DeLorme was appointed as Vice-President. Chris Toole and Ron Hill will remain in their present positions. Click here for full story.Jim Charles Retires as Trustee: August 27, 2003
President Mazza has announced that Jimmy Charles has stepped down as Trustee for Local 118. With Jim's pending retirement next year he felt it was time to bring some fresh faces onto the Executive Board. Jim served on the Executive Board for nearly six years and looks forward to remaining active within Local 118 after his retirement. On behalf of the Executive Board, the members of Local 118 and Jim's co-workers at New Penn we thank you for your support and devoted service to the Teamsters Union.Executive Board Appoints New Officers: September 3, 2003
The Executive Board of Local 118 has made a number of changes. Steve Mazza was appointed as President and Principle Officer, Gene DeLorme was appointed Vice-President and Dick Militello and Roland Truelove were appointed as Trustees. Jim Miley was assigned to the door as a Conductor/Warden. Dick Militello is a Union Steward and he currently works for Wegmans Food Markets as a driver. Roland Truelove works for U.S.F. Redstar and Jim Miley works for Roadway. Both Roland and Jim are Union Stewards for their companies. If you see these guys on the road give them your support and congratulations.Labor Day Parade
Monday, September 1st, 2003
President Mazza would like to thank all the families and members that attended this year's
Labor Day Parade. Teamsters Local 118 was represented by a number of companies from the Rochester
area. It was a fantastic success and our presentation was voted one of the best in the parade!
WAY TO GO LOCAL 118!!!!
Stop by here to take a look at some pictures.
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 immediately.
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 and 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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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.
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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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!!!
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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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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
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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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