POWER D.R.I.V.E. - Teamsters Local 25

A Message from Mark HarringtonLocal 25 Secretary-TreasurerI hope that all of my brother and sister members and families had an enjoyablesummer. We start the fall with many challenges on our horizon. Theconstant assault on workers continues to take place throughout our country.In many cases this assault is used as a divide-and-conquer approach bybusiness. I read with interest the comments made by the keyboard cowardswriting replies into the newspapers such as the Herald about union workersbecause we actually have rights and enjoy good wages, benefits andworking conditions. It really is disturbing to see the ridicule of hard workingmembers and their families simply because we work under a unioncontract. This recession hasn’t been caused by firefighters, teachers, DPWworkers, cops or any union workers. I wish we had that kind of power.The reason I bring this up is because we are now starting to see it spillover into our negotiations. Companies are taking us on over such matters ofhealth and welfare and pension. Since everyone else in the company has topay for health care they want us to pay for health care. Since everyone else atthe company has a 401(k) they want us to have a 401(k) instead of a pension.Recently I settled three contracts at Global Companies, drivers and plantmen(Chelsea and Revere). We successfully increased wages and maintained ourhealth and welfare and pension. However, it wasn't easy and it isn’t becausethe company can’t afford it. It is because no one else has it.At Aggregate Industries in Saugus, we are in a fight of our lives trying tomaintain just what we currently have. Aggregate is taking on Teamsterlocals all over this country, taking advantage of this recession by implementingconcessions knowing that a strike by the workers will only hurtthe workers not the company.How do we turn the tide? We must wake up and realize that we are aminority and as such must fight for everything we have. We must realizewho are friends are. I recently represented a member who was suspended.After we finished up the meeting in which he was returned to work, Inoticed a Charlie Baker for Governor bumper sticker on his pickup truck.Charlie Baker was not our friend. We must realize the reason we enjoy thestandard of living we have is because of our union. We have become toocomfortable with our suburban lifestyle. Just because our kids play soccerand hockey with professional workers and doctors and lawyers doesn’tmean they like you. Be true to your roots. Let’s get ready to rumble becausethere is going to be a fight to take away everything you enjoy.18 | The SPOKESMAN | FALL 2011 | www.teamsterslocal25.com