FreightKicker
TB Lurker
- Credits
- 7
IBT VP Sean O'Brien posted a message last night on the Joint Council 10 Facebook page. The link is below. But for those that don't have a Facebook profile, and so can't see the page where the link leads, I have copied the text and posted it below the link.
https://www.facebook.com/newengland...2950245120527/232245844190966/?type=3&theater
A MESSAGE FROM SEAN O’BRIEN ON THE ABF VOTE
On March 10 ABF Teamsters voted to accept a national contract that settled far short of what could have been achieved in this economic environment. New England Teamsters rejected the contract by a vote of 174-14 and around the country nine regional supplements failed.
Why did these supplements fail? For the first time, the International took the power to negotiate pension and health and welfare rates out of the hands of regional negotiators. In New England, the International failed to even contact our pension fund to find out the funding levels it needed. Never before in freight has a negotiating team not consulted with the pension funds to find out the members’ needs.
The ABF contract offer was so destructive to Teamster pensions that—in an unprecedented move—New England locals petitioned the General Executive Board to pull the offer and send negotiators back to the table before tonight’s vote took place. Unfortunately, 13 of 22 GEB members, including New England’s own International Vice President John Murphy, voted to throw Joint Council 10’s members—and their pensions—under the bus.
But the proposal’s deficiencies go beyond harming the pension fund. The ABF contract fell short on a myriad of issues:
• WAGES: At a time when trucking demand is at an all time high and the industry is suffering from a shortage of qualified drivers, the International only came up with a 1.2 percent raise. That’s nothing compared to the $1.70 we lost the last time Hoffa went to the table. That means after this contract, ABF Teamsters will be back to where they were in 2008.
• SUBCONTRACTING: Nothing was done to stem the tide of Teamster work migrating to subcontractors across the country.
• WEAKENING CONTRACT ENFORCEMENT: By creating an ABF-only grievance panel, this contract allows the company to deadlock every grievance, every time.
• HEALTH CARE LOOPHOLES: Health care is always in the details and this deal allows ABF to make lesser payments to certain funds, which will force benefit cuts.
Working hand-in-hand, ABF, Wall Street and Team Hoffa lobbied hard for a YES vote. They pulled out all the stops by using mail, robocalls and social media and could only manage a partial victory.
I’m proud of the loud message New England Teamsters and those others who voted no sent to Hoffa. We will not accept concessions from a profitable company. And when our national leaders don’t care about our concerns, we will be heard with our votes. We will fight—and fight hard—before we give back what it took generations to earn.
https://www.facebook.com/newengland...2950245120527/232245844190966/?type=3&theater
A MESSAGE FROM SEAN O’BRIEN ON THE ABF VOTE
On March 10 ABF Teamsters voted to accept a national contract that settled far short of what could have been achieved in this economic environment. New England Teamsters rejected the contract by a vote of 174-14 and around the country nine regional supplements failed.
Why did these supplements fail? For the first time, the International took the power to negotiate pension and health and welfare rates out of the hands of regional negotiators. In New England, the International failed to even contact our pension fund to find out the funding levels it needed. Never before in freight has a negotiating team not consulted with the pension funds to find out the members’ needs.
The ABF contract offer was so destructive to Teamster pensions that—in an unprecedented move—New England locals petitioned the General Executive Board to pull the offer and send negotiators back to the table before tonight’s vote took place. Unfortunately, 13 of 22 GEB members, including New England’s own International Vice President John Murphy, voted to throw Joint Council 10’s members—and their pensions—under the bus.
But the proposal’s deficiencies go beyond harming the pension fund. The ABF contract fell short on a myriad of issues:
• WAGES: At a time when trucking demand is at an all time high and the industry is suffering from a shortage of qualified drivers, the International only came up with a 1.2 percent raise. That’s nothing compared to the $1.70 we lost the last time Hoffa went to the table. That means after this contract, ABF Teamsters will be back to where they were in 2008.
• SUBCONTRACTING: Nothing was done to stem the tide of Teamster work migrating to subcontractors across the country.
• WEAKENING CONTRACT ENFORCEMENT: By creating an ABF-only grievance panel, this contract allows the company to deadlock every grievance, every time.
• HEALTH CARE LOOPHOLES: Health care is always in the details and this deal allows ABF to make lesser payments to certain funds, which will force benefit cuts.
Working hand-in-hand, ABF, Wall Street and Team Hoffa lobbied hard for a YES vote. They pulled out all the stops by using mail, robocalls and social media and could only manage a partial victory.
I’m proud of the loud message New England Teamsters and those others who voted no sent to Hoffa. We will not accept concessions from a profitable company. And when our national leaders don’t care about our concerns, we will be heard with our votes. We will fight—and fight hard—before we give back what it took generations to earn.
: on. Rank & file approved a contract calling for 4 years of work to receive 1 year of full pension credit & 15% less wages. And we call ourselves Teamsters. That is the true disgrace of a union. von.
