Taking On Taking On - Teamsters Local 25
Taking On Taking On - Teamsters Local 25 Taking On Taking On - Teamsters Local 25
1279_Local25_Spring07.qxp 4/6/07 11:21 AM Page 8 Taking On UPS President O’Brien Keeps Busy At UPS Contract Talks in Virginia From mid-January through late March, Local 25 President Sean O’Brien attended seven weeks of UPS contract talks as a member of the union’s National UPS Negotiating Committee. “It’s been a very challenging two and a half months,” O’Brien said. “The biggest challenge has been leaving Boston with all that is going on locally to head to Virginia for the talks. However, General President Jim Hoffa has entrusted me with this task, and I will do whatever it takes to negotiate the strongest contract for our 3,000 UPS members at Local 25 and the more than 235,000 nationwide.” UPS members in the Boston area and across the country have made it clear that protecting pensions and health care are their top priorities. O’Brien said he and the rest of the national committee are determined to protect these hard-fought benefits. “Local 25’s UPS members constantly tell me that we need to protect health & welfare and pension benefits, and we will do just that,” O’Brien said. “I understand what is at stake here, and we will get the job done.” While O’Brien has spent lots of time living out of a suitcase, he keeps in close contact with his officers, business agents and staff members back home. “I keep on top of everything. My staff knows to keep me in the loop,” he said with a smile. After making steady progress on issues related to working conditions, the Teamsters National UPS Negotiating Committee began bargaining economic 6 | The SPOKESMAN | SPRING 2007 | www.teamsterslocal25.com
1279_Local25_Spring07.qxp 4/6/07 11:21 AM Page 9 issues the week of March 19. An aggressive schedule was set for the committee, and a decision was made not to schedule talks past March 31. This decision was based on the reasoning that by the end of March, the committee would be able to determine whether UPS was serious about discussing solutions to members’ concerns about pensions and health and welfare benefits. The negotiations opened with discussions about the economic issues of greatest concern to members, and in the meantime, meetings were held with the relevant pension and health and welfare funds. While waiting for the funds to compile the necessary data, the committee set out to resolve non-economic issues concerning working conditions. “At this point, we have come to agreement on several issues, though we still have not fully resolved our members’ concerns about non-economic issues such as excessive overtime or subcontracting,” said Ken Hall, Director of the Teamsters Parcel and Small Package Division. Beyond March Ultimately, after having received an unprecedented amount of informa- tion from the relevant health & welfare and pension funds, the committee was able to put forth a package of economic proposals to the company. “There still remain non-economic issues we’re apart on, but we put economics on the table because we received the information we needed from the funds,” Hall said. “Our members made it clear in surveys that pensions and health care are their top priorities. With the new pension legislation looming, we’ve put forth proposals for record increases. We are taking on the fight to protect members’ pension and health care benefits.” Following talks the week of March 19th, a decision was made to schedule future talks with the company in May. “The committee has determined that at this point, an early agreement with UPS is still within reach,” Hall said. The union’s national committee members represent different areas of the country with different issues. “Our committee is doing a great job providing input on behalf of their members,” Hall said. Protecting pensions is especially challenging in light of so many pensions being lost and terminated at companies around the country. “We must remain united so we can take on the fight for all members’ retirement security,” Hall said. Local Supplements In coming weeks, the committee will continue to analyze data and develop the best solutions to protect pensions and health care. In the meantime, for the month of April, national committee members will focus on the many supplemental agreements. “The supplements, riders and addendums include very important issues, such as local working conditions and bidding procedures,” said Denis Taylor, President of Local 355, who was appointed to coordinate the supplement negotiations. O’Brien agreed. “The supplements are very important to the daily lives of our UPS members,” O’Brien said. “I look forward to putting in a lot of energy to address these local issues. Although I serve on the national negotiating committee, I never forget the needs of our members right here at home.” www.teamsterslocal25.com | SPRING 2007 | The SPOKESMAN | 7
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1279_<strong>Local</strong><strong>25</strong>_Spring07.qxp 4/6/07 11:21 AM Page 8<br />
<strong>Taking</strong> <strong>On</strong><br />
UPS<br />
President O’Brien Keeps Busy At<br />
UPS Contract Talks in Virginia<br />
From mid-January through late March, <strong>Local</strong> <strong>25</strong><br />
President Sean O’Brien attended seven weeks of<br />
UPS contract talks as a member of the union’s<br />
National UPS Negotiating Committee.<br />
“It’s been a very challenging two and a half months,”<br />
O’Brien said. “The biggest challenge has been leaving<br />
Boston with all that is going on locally to head to Virginia<br />
for the talks. However, General President Jim Hoffa has<br />
entrusted me with this task, and I will do whatever it<br />
takes to negotiate the strongest contract for our 3,000<br />
UPS members at <strong>Local</strong> <strong>25</strong> and the more than 235,000<br />
nationwide.”<br />
UPS members in the Boston area and across the<br />
country have made it clear that protecting pensions and<br />
health care are their top priorities. O’Brien said he and<br />
the rest of the national committee are determined to protect<br />
these hard-fought benefits.<br />
“<strong>Local</strong> <strong>25</strong>’s UPS members constantly tell me that we<br />
need to protect health & welfare and pension benefits, and<br />
we will do just that,” O’Brien said. “I understand what is<br />
at stake here, and we will get the job done.”<br />
While O’Brien has spent lots of time living out of a<br />
suitcase, he keeps in close contact with his officers, business<br />
agents and staff members back home. “I keep on top<br />
of everything. My staff knows to keep me in the loop,” he<br />
said with a smile.<br />
After making steady progress on issues related to<br />
working conditions, the <strong>Teamsters</strong> National UPS<br />
Negotiating Committee began bargaining economic<br />
6 | The SPOKESMAN | SPRING 2007 | www.teamsterslocal<strong>25</strong>.com
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