Taking On Taking On - Teamsters Local 25

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1279_Local25_Spring07.qxp 4/6/07 11:21 AM Page 20 A Message from Steven R. Sullivan Director of Organizing & Government Affairs Organize the UNorganized! The Organizing Department has been busy talking to workers at Laidlaw Bus Company, First Student Bus Company, and UPS Freight. The City of Woburn department heads petition is in the hands of the State Labor Relations Commission. We hope to have an election date by May 1, 2007. We have faced some adversity with the Boston College Police Campaign. The Boston College Police Patrolmen voted to merge their (Association) into Teamsters Local 25 by a 36-0 vote. Due to an antiquated section in the National Labor Relations Act, we cannot hold an NLRB election for these Police Officers, an election we would clearly win. Section 9 (b)(3) of the National Labor Relations Act reads “a labor organization shall not be certified as the representative of employees in a bargaining unit of guards if such organization admits to membership or is affiliated directly or indirectly with an organization who admits to membership employees other than guards.” Since the National Labor Relations Board is not authorized to hold an election for these Police Officers, we asked the administration at Boston College to “recognize” the fact that the police want to be represented by Teamsters Local Union No. 25. The college has decided not to “voluntary recognize” the police patrolmen. There are many disturbing issues at the Boston College Police Department. The turnover rate of these qualified professionals is alarming. There are over a dozen outstanding grievances written for violating the contract. The officers constantly feel compromised as professionals. The department suffers from inadequate staffing levels, mandatory overtime, lack of up-to-date equipment, unpaid time for working, and insufficient holding facilities. These professionals have reached out for our support and we need to do our best to help them. We are currently working on a plan to convince Boston College to recognize the Policemen at Boston College. Stay Tuned !!!! Employee Free Choice Act A Good Choice On February 23, 2007 members of the Labor Community in the City of Boston gathered at the Teamsters Local 25 Union Hall for a press conference about the Employee Free Choice Act. The Employee Free Choice Act (H.R. 800), supported by a bipartisan coalition in Congress, would level the playing field for workers and employers and help rebuild America’s middle class. It would restore workers’ freedom to choose a union by: • Establishing stronger penalties for violations of employee rights when workers seek to form a union and during first-contract negotiations. • Providing mediation and arbitration for first-contract disputes. • Allowing employees to form unions by signing cards authorizing union representation. 18 | The SPOKESMAN | SPRING 2007 | www.teamsterslocal25.com
1279_Local25_Spring07.qxp 4/6/07 11:21 AM Page 21 Sean M. O’Brien at the podium LtoR: Cathy Curran, Bill Gardner, Wayne Curran, Genaro Vargas and Joe Pasquale all drivers at FedEx Home Delivery in Wilmington, Massachusetts. Sean M. O’Brien, President of Teamsters Local 25 opened the press conference with a back drop of FedEx Home Delivery drivers who voted to join local 25 in October of 2006. O’Brien said, “ These FedEx workers behind me had to endure the most treacherous antiunion campaign we have ever seen here at Teamsters Local 25. This law is crucial for the protection of every worker who wants to become a union member.” At the press conference Congressman Edward Markey (D-Mass) and Congressman Stephen Lynch (D-Mass) discussed their strategy going forward in the newly turned Democratic House of Representatives. The Employee Free Choice Act was passed on March 1, 2007. The bill is waiting to go through the United States Senate, where it is expected to pass only to be vetoed by President Bush. Left to Right: Edward Markey (D-Mass), Sean M. O’Brien, President of Teamsters Local 25 ,Congressman Stephen Lynch (D-Mass) www.teamsterslocal25.com | SPRING 2007 | The SPOKESMAN | 19
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Taking On Taking On - Teamsters Local 25

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