Taking On Taking On - Teamsters Local 25

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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