Taking On Taking On - Teamsters Local 25

1279_Local25_Spring07.qxp 4/6/07 11:21 AM Page 4
Business Agent
Dedicated to Our Local Union Members
Secretary-Treasurer
Mark Harrington
There have been many developments
in the carhaul industry over
the last few months. Allied
Systems, the country’s largest
hauler of vehicles, is poised to
emerge from bankruptcy with a
buyout by the investment group
Yucaipa. Our Allied brothers have been working under very
difficult conditions since the bankruptcy filing in 2005.
Management has constantly pushed for the abolishment
of the Teamster contract through the bankruptcy judge.
Recently the Yucaipa Investment group made an offer that
was accepted by the judge, clearing the way for Allied to
emerge from bankruptcy. The other side is the Teamster rank
and file must accept a 15-percent pay reduction. The
International Union has put this out for a rank-and-file vote.
The local will keep you informed on the outcome of that vote.
In other carhaul news, Blue Thunder, perhaps the largest
nonunion carhauler, has ceased operations. This has led to a
windfall of freight for the other carriers. The PTS group, also
recently purchased by Yucaipa, has been the main recipient of
the work. Here in Local 25’s area, we have obtained the full
General Motors account. The company is looking to hire
between 20 and 30 drivers.
In freight, New Penn is proposing a change of operations
that will have a negative impact on our Billerica terminal.
Local 25 is committed to fighting this change, as we believe
the change will not have any positive impact on the overall
operation of the company and will only hurt our dedicated
workers.
I have started negotiations with the Praxair group and our
organizers have since organized two other groups of Praxair
workers. I am preparing to negotiate on their behalf as well.
I am also in negotiations with TD Banknorth with respect
to the loaders and unloaders. I am also about to start negotiations
with the Hingham DPW group as we recently held a
proposal meeting with them.
The Local 25 scholarship golf outing is scheduled for June
16. I urge you to sign up early. This event will sell out in no
time.
I recently attended the International Foundation of
Employee Benefit Plans conference. This conference was very
educational and informative as we try to stay ahead of the
curve on the ever-looming health care issues.
Vice-President and
Business Agent
John Murphy
I was in Dallas, Texas in mid-
March for another round of negotiations
with UPS Cartage Services
Inc., (CSI), formerly Menlo. We
spent three more days going over
proposals and counter-proposals
that brought our members closer to a new contract.
We have asked the Town of Acton, as well as Xpedx, a paper
company, for some dates at the end of March to start negotiations
for a first-time contract with Acton’s 911 dispatchers, as
well as a renewal contract for our xpedx members.
President Sean O’Brien met with the North Shore Kennel
Association about organizing all the dog owners who race
their dogs at Wonderland Dog Track. This will hopefully give
Local 25 more leverage in contract talks and help us with the
slot machine issue at the tracks. We would like to see slots
eventually come to the track, which would create numerous
jobs.
In freight, I will be heading down to the Eastern Region
Review Committee meetings, where we will rule on a case
involving subcontracting and lift gates at Local 340 in Maine.
President O’Brien, Business Agent Tom Mari and I met
with International Union Representative Brad Slawson and
Local 295’s Attorney Walter Kane to discuss the upcoming DHL
contract negotiations. The International Union has informed us
that we will be on the national negotiating committee.
In February, we held a Massport Labor Union Unity
Council meeting at our union hall to discuss the need to
band together on the upcoming contract negotiations, and
the overall working conditions at the port. All the affected
local unions have agreed to stand together and try to force
Massport to treat its unionized employees with dignity and
respect. Also at the port, we have just been informed that the
board of directors has voted to require that all employees,
whether union or not, pay 15 percent toward their health
care, with a phase-in system starting in July.
Logan parking employees will be sent surveys for the new
contract. As soon as we get them back we will hold a proposal
meeting.
2 | The SPOKESMAN | SPRING 2007 | www.teamsterslocal25.com