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ENERGETIC SHOP STEWARDS & ACTIVISTS TRAINING JUNE 28TH
By BILL McCARTHY, Communications Specialist The topic of the day during the Seminar was “Politics and Local 174’s Political Action Program." Knowledgeable guest speakers and three political friends in the midst of their campaigns were present for the event, which took place in the Main Meeting Hall at JC-28 Headquarters in Tukwila. The agenda was a team effort with input from the IBT, JC-28 and Local 174. The main speakers were Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks, Joint Council 28/International Vice President Al Hobart, and IBT Field Action Department Director Christy Bailey. The other speakers were Local 174 Senior Business Agent/Education Director Tim Allen, Staff Assistant from U.S. Representative Jay Inslee's (D-1st Congresssional District) Office Sharmila Swenson, and Local 174 Lobbyist Gordon Baxter. Also addressing the crowd during the proceedings as their schedules permitted, were three political guests running for office currently. They were challenger in the 8th Congressional District for the U.S. House Darcy Burner (D), challenger for Washington State Attorney General John Ladenberg (D), and incumbent Associate Chief Justice of the Washington State Supreme Court Charles Johnson.RICK HICKS: WE MUST BE POLITICALLY ACTIVE He said the main purpose of the Training was to discuss the importance of DRIVE, and the reason why there is a huge need for the Teamsters Union to be active in the Nation’s Political System.
DRIVE, he added, “is the IBT’s Political Action Committee, or PAC. It stands for Democratic Republican Independent Voter Education. It is a voluntary program that Teamster members sign up for individually, and their donations help give Teamsters a voice in politics at all levels.” Much of DRIVE’s effort is directed toward national politics, such as the present U.S. Presidential race. The Teamsters are backing Democratic candidate Barack Obama, and DRIVE funds are going to help get out the vote in this Union for Obama. But also, the IBT funnels many DRIVE funds back to the Locals so they can engage in efforts to get, for instance, pro-worker candidates elected to State offices. In Washington State, DRIVE funds are going toward getting the vote out for incumbent Democratic Governor Chris Gregoire, who is a longtime friend of the Teamsters. Hicks said, “We are pleased that many of our members are participating in DRIVE. But we would like to see a big increase in the numbers of those who are doing so. We need our membership to better understand the great impact of politics on our daily lives. Every decision we make has political attachments that came from decisions made by our elected politicians. We need to be sure to pick the right politicians to elect. We need you to go back and enlist your co-workers to join DRIVE.” He added, “The IBT is rapidly regaining our power, and is now up to about 1.5 million members. We have lots of political influence if we speak up. And one of the main ways we speak up is through DRIVE.” Hicks then introduced the next speaker, Al Hobart. He said, “Al is a great support network for Local 174. Whenever we ask for help, he provides it from his dual role as President of Joint Council of Teamsters No. 28, and as an International Vice President and member of the Executive Board of IBT President James Hoffa.” AL HOBART: WE MUST TURN THINGS AROUND Hobart said a brief review of the past 7-1/2 years under the George W. Bush Administration itself shows why donations to DRIVE and a strong Teamster Political Action System are crucially important.
He stressed that people have to remember that voting Bush into office twice has led to the problems we are all facing today. He noted that everyone is impacted by our bad economy under Bush. Gas prices, grocery prices, housing costs, and nearly everything else has been affected by his unwise policies. Another four years of his policies would be forced upon our citizens if John McCain were to be elected in 2008, he added, and would see us getting in even deeper trouble. Hobart said, “The corruption in Washington, D.C. is now so bad, it is hard to know who is in control.” He said most Labor Laws have been wiped out by Bush and his friends in the Government, and have resulted in Big Business doing pretty much whatever it wants to do when it comes to dealing with its employees. He emphasized, “I know what I am saying is a harsh message, but it is reality. It is up to us to turn things around.” And the way to do that is to help elect Obama, who is, said Hobart, “our only hope for change.” He said it is the future that is at stake the most. He warned, “This is a historic election. We will be judged harshly later on for what we do or don’t do. Everything is at risk.” He urged those at the Training to help get more people signed up with DRIVE and participating in politics to help end the Bush nightmare and to help Organized Labor regain its former glory. CHRISTY BAILEY: BACKING BARACK AND OTHERS
Bailey began by asking, “Why should the Teamsters be involved in politics?" She answered her own question: "Because it impacts our Union, our lives, and our families.” She said the endorsement of Obama by the IBT came after a yearlong process of polling its membership at all levels of its organization, and: “It was based on commitments made by the candidate, on polling of Teamster members, and on surveys of Local Union and Joint Council leaders.” Obama backs the Employee Free Choice Act, which if passed would enable workers to form unions without employer harassment. Also, she said, Obama has committed to “renegotiate NAFTA, stop tax breaks for outsourcing jobs, giving Teamsters a seat at the table in future trade negotiations, keeping the border closed to unsafe Mexican trucks, investigating the misclassification of workers, and investing in our country’s infrastructure including things like roads and bridges.” The IBT is strongly backing JC-28 and Local 174 in their efforts to help get Governor Gregoire reelected. Bailey said of Gregoire, “She took office with a $2.2 billion shortfall and one of the highest unemployment rates in the country. Now, Washington State has a surplus and one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country. She has invested in infrastructure and created good paying jobs — union jobs.” Bailey ended her comments by saying DRIVE is vital to the IBT’s continued success. She pointed out: “We can make a difference in elections of people like Obama and Gregoire through grassroots politics. But only 56.2% of Teamsters are registered to vote. Only 58% of Teamsters in Washington State are registered to vote. Only 55% of Local 174 Teamsters are registered to vote.” She said of DRIVE statistics, “Only 9.42% of members are on National DRIVE. Only 2.47% of JC-28 members and 9.21% of Local 174 members are on National DRIVE.” She called on those at the Training to help the IBT make an even bigger difference politically in the future by “Joining DRIVE, and by being a DRIVE salesperson in your worksite because if you don’t ask they won’t give, and by registering your fellow members to vote.”
CANDIDATES BURNER, JOHNSON AND LADENBERG SPEAK All three thanked the Teamsters for their support and their group’s endorsements, and spoke to their desire to improve the lots of working families today. All three have been lifelong friends of Labor and said they hope to work with the Teamsters closely in the future should they win in 2008. COMMENTS BY ALLEN, SWENSON AND BAXTER
Allen summed up the comments of all the preceeding speakers by saying, “We all know what’s been going on. Now it is time to go to the polls and take back our country. As a nation we’ve wasted a lot of what our union predecessors fought and died for. Politics is the only way to protect our remaining, and regain our former, power. If we aren’t active, we will lose out because our employers definitely are active.” Swenson gave an important talk about what PAC’s are, and their financial rules and limitations. She said Labor PAC’s like DRIVE are very important to groups like Local 174 because they help get viewpoints across publicly, and level the playing field against the rich anti-worker forces. Baxter is a 30-plus year union member in the Metal Trades, specifically the pipefitters. He has been lobbying for many unions for about a decade, and Local 174 for less than a year. He brings lots of knowledge, and lets 174’s leaders know about developments and opportunities in Olympia. He said everything is affected by the decisions of the elected politicians, and stressed that, “Change doesn’t just happen. We have to fight for it. And by being determined and speaking up, we can be effective agents for change. Remember — politics works, and if done well, it makes everything else better. They may have the money, but we have the people, and if we are active in politics we will be heard.” SKIT FOLLOWED BY A MUCH APPRECIATED PICNIC After the skit, the crowd partook of a picnic feast courtesy of Local 174. It featured chicken and steak, plus the fixings, and beverages. We’ll have more about the picnic on this Website, including a slide show, soon.
SHOP STEWARDS & ACTIVISTS TRAINING JUNE 28TH
By MICHAEL GONZALES, Business Agent and Political Action Director This Seminar is extremely important in this Election Year. The topic on June 28 will be “Politics and Local 174’s Political Action Program.” Our Local Union has a plan to help Labor candidates win in their respective contests. On June 28 knowledgeable instructors will train our members on the importance of DRIVE (Democrat Republication Independent Voter Education), and how to help ensure the success of Labor-friendly candidates. There will be candidates at the Training who are running for office, who will explain what positions they are campaigning for and why we should vote for them. WHAT A POLITICAL YEAR THIS IS! Our State has been identified as being one of the battleground contests in the Presidential Election between U.S. Senator from Illinois Barack Obama (D) and his opponent U.S. Senator from Arizona John McCain (R). We will have a Governor’s race which will probably go down in history as one of the most expensive ever between incumbent Governor Chris Gregoire (D) and her challenger Dino Rossi (R). And also we are going to be in the midst of a hard-fought contest between challenger Darcy Burner (D) and the incumbent Dave Reichert (R) for the important U.S. Representative seat in our State’s 8th Congressional District that will be watched on a national scale. LOCAL 174 WILL DO ITS PART WE ARE AT A CROSSROADS Despite the recent growth, we have seen our rights as Union Members challenged by the current Administration, demonstrated by President George W. Bush’s appointments to the National Labor Relations Board. We have seen our rights to card-check neutrality agreements, back pay for unjust terminations during organizing campaigns, and an overall interpretation and enforcement of our labor laws being rolled back after years of recognized law. This is the year as Union members we must put aside our disappointment in a political process that seems to have forgotten the working man and woman. In this year the Teamsters Union is endorsing Barack Obama for President, Christine Gregoire for Washington State Governor, and Darcy Burner for Congress. All of these candidates support reforms in health care, the Employee Free Choice Act, and strong rights for Union members. As Teamsters, members of the strongest and most powerful Union in the Labor Movement, we need to lead and make sure we take an active role in helping these candidates win office. We must take control of our future and not leave it up to chance. I would like to urge everyone to call the Local and sign up for the Stewards and Activists Training on June 28th. Thank you.
GREAT TURNOUT AT 2008 TRUCK ROADEO
By BILL McCARTHY, Communications Specialist The Championships have become known as the "Truck Roadeo," and the Roadeo experience is much more than just a driving contest. Contestants and friends bring their families for a day's entertainment — watching the drivers drive, and feasting on picnic food and drinks, as well as socializing. The Teamsters Union always has many entries in the Roadeos, but always, the most entrants and winners come from Local 174. This year, the Roadeo was on Saturday, June 14th at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma. Many Local 174 families and friends attended, and all enjoyed themselves. The Local 174 Truck was there, and the Local had a special tent under which excellent Barbecue food, fixings and beverages were served throughout the day, which began with registration for driving events at about 8:00 a.m. and ended with award presentations at about 2:00 p.m. In past years Roadeo attendees have often had to deal with rainy weather. This year, however, the sun was shining nearly all day and some folks even got sunburned. THANK-YOU'S AND A REPORT ON TEAMSTER WINNERS
Great thanks are due to all those volunteer Local 174 officers, staff and general members who helped with the daunting job of getting the Local 174 tent ready. Their able team managed the logistics of loading, unloading and transporting the tent equipment, the food, and the drinks to and after the event from Cheney Stadium. Their impressive energy was expended also at the Stadium during the day on the tasks of cooking and serving hotdogs, chicken and steaks — and handling the miscellaneous other picnic tasks related to potluck goodies and accompanying condiments. Thanks are due also to all the 174 members, families and friends who attended this event on a busy Saturday — as there are few instances sadder than to throw a party and have no one come to it. Lots of people came to this party. And of course thanks are due to all the Local 174 entrants in the Trucking competition. Everyone did well, though we don't have room here to name them all. As a group Local 174 outdid all other Union groups in number of awards. Below we highlight all the Union Company Driver "Medalists" — that is to say, those who took firsts, seconds or thirds in their respective contests.
At the end of the day, Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks summed it all up:
With Dan in the Local 174 first place winners' circle were Mike Mygatt from USF Reddaway competing in the Twins Classification, Robert Ness of Safeway competing in the Four Axle Classification, and Dana Moore from the Boeing Company competing in the Tanker Classification. Dana and Dan are repeat State Champions in their respective contests — Dana having won 10 State Titles in all and the past five in a row, and Dan now holds seven State titles. Both are also former National Champions. Mike is also a repeat State Champion and a former State Grand Champion. They have all qualified for and will now move on to the National Truck Driving Championships in Houston, Texas the week of August 18-22.GALLERY SLIDE SHOW
LABOR NEIGHBOR WALK COMING UP ON JUNE 21 (June 13, 2008) ATTENTION PLEASE! Local 174 will have a contingent present on Saturday, June 21st in the Washington State Labor Council's 2008 Labor Neighbor Walk. Please participate if you are able. Local 174 Lobbyist Gordon Baxter will be facilitating the 174 efforts on the 21st. If you have questions about details or directions, you can call Local 174 Business Agent/Political Action Director Michael Gonzales at 206-441-6060. Below the Washington State Labor Council describes the event.
DHL RESTRUCTURING PLANS UNVEILED (May 28, 2008) After months of speculation concerning the restructuring of its United States operations, Deutsche Post World Net — that is, DHL Express’s parent company — today announced those plans. The cornerstone of their restructuring plan is the surprise announcement that DHL will be subcontracting its airlift operations to UPS. EVALUATION OF IMPACT Many of the Agents and Officers on today’s call also expressed similar concerns for their members working in airport operations. In some cases, Locals fought long and hard with DHL during the recently concluded negotiations to secure additional work in their air operations. What impact this announcement will have on those agreements and workers is unclear, but one thing is certain — DHL will have to bargain over any changes the UPS arrangement brings. COMMENTS BY TIM ALLEN “However, one thing is clear,” he emphasized. “Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks and I are unwavering in our commitment to this bargaining unit. DHL will have to bargain with Local 174 if there are any changes that impact our members.” This could potentially lead to further expansion for Local 174 in the Puget Sound region. Some progress was made during Local Rider negotiations and this new announcement may provide an opportunity to further expand the Seattle Cluster’s service area. SUMMING IT UP “For over a year the pundits have speculated about a Fed Ex alliance or takeover of DHL’s U.S. operations, which would have left all our small parcel/express members with an uncertain future. This unexpected move should strengthen both DHL and UPS — two great TEAMSTER companies — and put their non-union competition on the defensive.” *** For more information on the DHL situation you can check out: www.teamster.org/08news/hn_080528_1.asp
RUAN MEMBERS UNANIMOUSLY AUTHORIZE A STRIKE By BILL McCARTHY, Communications Specialist
The Ruan grocery drivers heard a lengthy report on the bargaining history to date from Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks, who is leading the negotiations. They also heard from other members of their Bargaining Committee — Local 174 President Ted Bunstine, 174 staff members Senior Business Agent Tom Mann and Business Agent Carl Gasca, and rank and file members Art Guerrero, Jim Paulson and Doug Frechin. Bargaining has been contentious from the start. The first official bargaining session was set for April 15-16. On the 15th, Hicks said, the Company stopped listening before the Union completed their initial proposal, caucused briefly then left abruptly. Hicks explained to the members the Committee had been unsuccessful in getting the Company to agree with the main points the Ruan members made in their Demands Meeting on March 31st. A second official session was set for April 25-26. After back to back negotiating days, one of which went late into the morning of the 26th, there was little progress made. At the conclusion of the second day the Company wanted us to sign an extension agreement with the Contract set to expire on April 30th. We declined their request in order to keep all options open as the Company had not demonstrated a serious attempt to resolve our member’s issues. Again, like the first meeting, the Company's negotiators packed up early and left. Finally, a third session was set for four days, May 16-19. Hicks said after some progress he and the Committee believed a Ratification Vote could be achieved by Sunday, May 18th. But as the theme of this bargain the Company negotiators refused to seriously address the member’s top three non-economic issues. So we decided it was time to take a Strike Authorization Vote to gauge the pulse of our members over the remaining unresolved demands. The Local 174 Ruan members voted unanimously, 100%, to authorize a strike if one becomes necessary. Prior to the Strike Authorization Vote, Hicks assured the members that they have strong backing from the IBT and JC-28. Contact between 174 and the IBT and JC-28 is especially close. International Warehouse Director and Local 117 S/T John Williams has agreed to fully support whatever decision Local 174 makes. Closing the May 18th Strike Authorization Meeting, Hicks thanked the members for their vote of confidence. He stressed, "For now, just continue going to work and doing your job. We don't want an extension, and we don't want a strike. But if we have to have one, we will be ready." We have scheduled a meeting for Wednesday, May 21, in a last attempt to convince the Company of the seriousness of this situation.
YOU ARE INVITED TO THE 2008 TRUCK ROADEO By DAVE JACOBSEN, Local 174 Business Agent
But the competition — which is also called the Truck Roadeo — is much more than just a driving contest. It is a popular family outing, featuring picnic food and drinks, entertainment of various kinds for young kids, and exciting driving to watch. By the way, the Teamster drivers often dominate the Roadeos, and several Local 174 members are multi-award winners and haven't slowed down at all. JOIN US JUNE 14THThis year, the Roadeo will be held Saturday, June 14th at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma. Bring yourself and your whole family and join us! The Local 174 Truck will be there, and the Local will have a special tent under which we'll have a Barbecue. The driving competition will start about 8 a.m., and the event will last all day. Vittles, free for Local 174 members and their families, will be served starting about 11 a.m., or whenever we've grilled a sufficient number of hot dogs and hamburgers. Please come join us at the BBQ. This is a fun family outing, and we guarantee you will enjoy yourself, no matter what the weather. This is no minor deal. Last year some 164 drivers registered to compete, and the contests were tense and close. The 2007 Roadeo was held at the Kent Boeing practice field in South Seattle. Again in 2008, as has been the case for 18 years, one of the event's chiefs will be our own 174 Senior Business Agent Erv Lemon — who has become known affectionately as the Roadeo's “Den Mother.” His task, which is a tough one he willingly takes on every year, involves making sure the drivers don’t see the course before their allotted performance time. He also makes sure the drivers are not competing in their own companies' trucks. Besides being involved in the State Roadeo competition he has been an assistant at the Nationals in different parts of the country. Local 174 Teamsters took 6 of the 8 First Places awarded in the 2007 Roadeo. Those six winners competed in the Nationals in Minneapolis, Minnesota. LOCAL 174 STATE 2007 ROADEO WINNERSTwins Trailers: 2nd, Dustin Hustad, Oak Harbor Freight; 3rd, Rick Colton, Boeing. Tank Truck: 2nd, Mark Koruga, Boeing; 3rd, Ed Campbell, Yellow. Straight Truck (Solo): 1st, Dan Poole, Boeing. Sleeper Truck: 1st, Roy Garcia, Peninsula; 2nd, Chuck Snowdon, Boeing. Flatbed: 1st, Dana Moore, Boeing; 2nd, Tom Lydiard, Ruan/AG; 3rd, Doyle Urquhart, Peninsula. Five Axle Van: 1st, Robert Ness, Safeway Grocery; 2nd, Robert Rautenberg, Safeway Grocery; 3rd, Joe Martinez, Roadway. Four Axle: 1st, Chris Bates, Roadway. Three Axle: 1st, Mike Mygatt, USF Reddaway; 2nd, Russell Swihart, USF Reddaway.
(May 12, 2008) The final Local 174 General Membership Meeting that will be held this year until next September was at times quite boring. But it was at the same time, very important. It was in the Main Meeting Hall at Tukwila Joint Council 28 Headquarters Thursday, May 8th. The members present completed the process of overhauling Local 174's Bylaws, which has been a rather monumental task. As Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks said at the start of the GMM prior to turning the microphone over to Business Agent Roger Pardo for the third and final consecutive monthly reading of the proposed changes, "This updating of our Bylaws is long overdue, and much needed. The last time Local 174 attempted to update the Bylaws took place back in the early 1990's and was not real successful. But this time we have done it right."
The proposed changes were read and discussed on the floor one by one on May 8th, and then the members voted on whether to accept or reject them — one by one. The voting ballots were collected, and then the counts in all the voting on each individual change were carefully tallied. The results will be verified shortly, and if you are interested in them you can contact Roger at the Local 174 Office and he'll see that you get the information you desire. OTHER BUSINESS AT THE GMM MAY 8THThe GMM covered other ground besides the Bylaws reading, voting and tallying. Hicks gave a detailed Secretary-Treasurer's Report, during which he and several Business Agents talked about the various negotiations and issues they and Local 174 have been involved with.
The next GMM, following the three-month summer recess, will be at 10:00 a.m., Sunday, September 14th in the Tukwila JC-28 HQ Main Meeting Hall. It will as usual be preceded at 8:00 a.m. by an Initiates Meeting.
LOCAL 174 & 763 OHFL MEMBERS ARE HANGING TOUGH
By BILL McCARTHY, Communications Specialist
The members first heard from Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks, Local 763 Secretary-Treasurer Dave Grage, 174 Business Agent Brian Davis, 763 Business Agent Evie Gradilla, and the rank and file members of their Bargaining Committee. Then they heard from Local 174 Attorney Dmitri Iglitzin, who talked about proper behavior on picket lines and elsewhere during strikes and other types of work stoppages — and also about unemployment insurance concerns, strike pay, and the rules of both stationary picketing and ambulatory picketing.
Hicks, who moderated the Tukwila 174-763 Meeting, told those present that the next decision on what happens will be made by the IBT, which is now deeply involved in the Oak Harbor bargaining. All efforts to deal with the owners by the two Locals, with help all the way up to the International Headquarters offices, have been coldly rebuffed by the Company. OHFL is essentially thumbing its condescending nose at the entire Teamsters Union. That could prove in the long run to be an unwise decision, because the general public, once they find out about the facts, does not feel very charitable toward companies that treat employees the way OHFL is treating their Teamster workers. Hicks promised to report any new bargaining developments to the Oak Harbor members immediately. In the meantime, he suggested everyone hope for the best, but plan for the worst. He urged the bargaining unit members to save their money, and be ready for a prolonged fight for their rights should one become necessary.
From the Teamsters E-Dispatch
DHL Express Workers Overwhelmingly Approve National Agreement (May 9, 2008) More than 7,000 Teamsters working at DHL Express ratified their first agreement by a solid 82%. The Contract, which boosts wages and benefits, improves working conditions and strengthens job security, marks the Union's second new National Agreement in the past month. Read more here. View preliminary vote count here. SOON, LOCAL 174 SENIOR BUSINESS AGENT TIM ALLEN, WHO WAS DEEPLY INVOLVED IN THE DHL NEGOTIATIONS, WILL POST HIS OWN LOCAL 174-RELATED COMMENTS ABOUT THE NEW AGREEMENT ON THE LOCAL 174 WEB SITE. STAY TUNED |
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