TForce | Indy Chosen First Terminal to Organize!
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One Terminal: Indianapolis
Teamsters Union Launches UPS Freight Organizing Drive
http://www.tdu.org/UPS/UPSnewhtml/ibtupsfreightorgan.htm
July 27, 2006. The International Union has launched a one-terminal organizing drive at UPS Freight, choosing Indianapolis as the target terminal. This medium sized terminal was chosen, according to IBT Parcel Director Ken Hall, because there is strong Teamster support there, and because there is no union jurisdictional dispute there because Local 135 includes both UPS and Freight Teamsters.
The target and strategy were announced on a July 25th IBT conference call with local union officials. Hall stated that a majority of cards would be signed right away, and by September they would start bargaining for a contract covering the Indianapolis terminal. It would be a stand-alone contract, tied to neither the national UPS nor Freight contract.
Hall claimed that the IBT has “no intention to agree to a contract that doesn’t include card check and company neutrality” for organizing the other 300 terminals. He also asserted the contract would be top scale and provide Teamster pensions.
Hoffa announced a card check and neutrality agreement at the IBT Convention in June, in which UPS management agrees not to oppose the union and to recognize the union when a majority of workers sign union cards. The agreement was announced one hour before voting started at the Convention. At the time, Hoffa concealed the fact that the deal covers only one terminal (of the union’s choosing), and once that one terminal goes union, the neutrality and card check agreement ends. That’s why Hall now promises to get a contract which would include company neutrality at all terminals.
The International Union has agreed to not disparage UPS management in the organizing drive. They’ve also instructed all locals to issue no disparaging literature and to screen any leaflets through the International.
Will a contract that does not undercut our freight Teamsters, which includes Teamster pensions, and gets UPS to agree to remain neutral in organizing, be won from this aggressive employer after organizing just one terminal?
That’s the IBT’s promise. But the same people who are promising this also promised last election season that “your benefits are secure for six years,” there will be “no dues increase,” “25 and out” is secure, to “get the government out” and to “run a clean union.”
The big question is, with about 1% of the 15,000 UPS Freight workers organized at one terminal, can this be done? Especially when UPS management is battling to take Teamsters out of Teamster pension plans, not to add more!
Will management simply roll over and say we were just kidding when we sent out 15,000 anti-union DVDs recently? Not without a fight, they won’t.
Assistant Freight Director Gordon Sweeton asked freight officials on the call to “get on board and keep an open mind” regarding the plan.
On the conference call, there was evident tension between the Parcel Division and Freight, and a number of references to jurisdictional disputes between UPS and Freight Local Unions over who would get the UPS Freight members.
The International Union instructed locals not to distribute union cards, but to contact UPS Freight workers, get seniority lists and build support for our union. All locals and members should join the effort to reach out to UPS Freight workers. This is a critical step in building the base of support needed to win the battle.
Organizing UPS Freight is critical to consolidating our union in trucking and strengthening our union’s pension plans. It’s going to take a bottom-up Teamster organizing drive and use of our national bargaining strength at UPS to win it.
Teamsters Union Launches UPS Freight Organizing Drive
http://www.tdu.org/UPS/UPSnewhtml/ibtupsfreightorgan.htm
July 27, 2006. The International Union has launched a one-terminal organizing drive at UPS Freight, choosing Indianapolis as the target terminal. This medium sized terminal was chosen, according to IBT Parcel Director Ken Hall, because there is strong Teamster support there, and because there is no union jurisdictional dispute there because Local 135 includes both UPS and Freight Teamsters.
The target and strategy were announced on a July 25th IBT conference call with local union officials. Hall stated that a majority of cards would be signed right away, and by September they would start bargaining for a contract covering the Indianapolis terminal. It would be a stand-alone contract, tied to neither the national UPS nor Freight contract.
Hall claimed that the IBT has “no intention to agree to a contract that doesn’t include card check and company neutrality” for organizing the other 300 terminals. He also asserted the contract would be top scale and provide Teamster pensions.
Hoffa announced a card check and neutrality agreement at the IBT Convention in June, in which UPS management agrees not to oppose the union and to recognize the union when a majority of workers sign union cards. The agreement was announced one hour before voting started at the Convention. At the time, Hoffa concealed the fact that the deal covers only one terminal (of the union’s choosing), and once that one terminal goes union, the neutrality and card check agreement ends. That’s why Hall now promises to get a contract which would include company neutrality at all terminals.
The International Union has agreed to not disparage UPS management in the organizing drive. They’ve also instructed all locals to issue no disparaging literature and to screen any leaflets through the International.
Will a contract that does not undercut our freight Teamsters, which includes Teamster pensions, and gets UPS to agree to remain neutral in organizing, be won from this aggressive employer after organizing just one terminal?
That’s the IBT’s promise. But the same people who are promising this also promised last election season that “your benefits are secure for six years,” there will be “no dues increase,” “25 and out” is secure, to “get the government out” and to “run a clean union.”
The big question is, with about 1% of the 15,000 UPS Freight workers organized at one terminal, can this be done? Especially when UPS management is battling to take Teamsters out of Teamster pension plans, not to add more!
Will management simply roll over and say we were just kidding when we sent out 15,000 anti-union DVDs recently? Not without a fight, they won’t.
Assistant Freight Director Gordon Sweeton asked freight officials on the call to “get on board and keep an open mind” regarding the plan.
On the conference call, there was evident tension between the Parcel Division and Freight, and a number of references to jurisdictional disputes between UPS and Freight Local Unions over who would get the UPS Freight members.
The International Union instructed locals not to distribute union cards, but to contact UPS Freight workers, get seniority lists and build support for our union. All locals and members should join the effort to reach out to UPS Freight workers. This is a critical step in building the base of support needed to win the battle.
Organizing UPS Freight is critical to consolidating our union in trucking and strengthening our union’s pension plans. It’s going to take a bottom-up Teamster organizing drive and use of our national bargaining strength at UPS to win it.
BusterNite
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Apo, as the letter says, Dated the 27th They will collect signed cards right away. The majority of cards will tell if they can be represented and then they will negotiate a contract by the end of September. They chose this terminal because of strong union support and because of no union jurisdictional dispute. So to anwser your question, No not yet!!! But most likley, yes very soon!Apostolic said:
APWA Update: Indianapolis, Ind. Center
Just received word on some events taking place at the UPS Freight Indianapolis Center. In the past few weeks, 80% of the workers at this site signed cards to certify Teamsters at their center. However, yesterday over 30% of those that had previously supported a Teamster certification signed a petition rescinding their cards so that they might vote in the APWA. An injunction was filed yesterday to hold up the official NLRB decision, and as of today this attempt by IBT to organize Indianapolis has failed with the NLRB rejecting the Teamsters bid. Support for APWA at this site is said to be a large majority, and card collection by the APWA is underway.
I just saw this on another chat room. Is there any truth to this?
Just received word on some events taking place at the UPS Freight Indianapolis Center. In the past few weeks, 80% of the workers at this site signed cards to certify Teamsters at their center. However, yesterday over 30% of those that had previously supported a Teamster certification signed a petition rescinding their cards so that they might vote in the APWA. An injunction was filed yesterday to hold up the official NLRB decision, and as of today this attempt by IBT to organize Indianapolis has failed with the NLRB rejecting the Teamsters bid. Support for APWA at this site is said to be a large majority, and card collection by the APWA is underway.
I just saw this on another chat room. Is there any truth to this?
Bama,
I'm not sure if it's true, but I really doubt it. Here's the deal. TDU has an agenda to gain control of the Teamsters, so they will try to spin anything in a negative light because they're not the ones making any gains. They'd like nothing more than for Hoffa and anyone associated with him to fail somehow so they can say "We told you so" and hope more Teamsters will vote for their candidates. It's a General Election year in the Teamsters and their candidate just barely got enough delegate votes to even get in the election.......it was something like 1600 for Hoffa-89 for Leedham. TDU desperately need something to build on and as always, they'll try anything negative to do it. They also refuse to disclose where their money comes from and one of their candidates for Vice President in the upcoming election was exposed for accepting $10,000.00 from a lawyer who works for a Union busting law firm. About 95% of Teamsters put no stock in what they say.
The APWA is a real comedy story. Keep in mind that the APWA represents exactly ZERO UPS workers and has never negotiated anything for anybody. It was apparently started by a few unhappy UPS workers from a right to work state who don't even pay dues to the Teamsters. Now there's a good example of Union Men, right? They need and ask for money from whomever will give them money and have no track record at running the day to day affairs of a Union. Oh, but they do promise (LOL!) that they'll get you a $7,000.00 to $8,000.00 per month retirement!
Pretty lofty goal for guys who won't even pay dues to the Union they belong to.
My point is that both of these groups are trying to make the Teamsters look bad to further their own agendas, which is to be the ones in power. Both would like nothing more than for Hoffa to fail at organizing UPSF....AT YOU AND YOUR CO-WORKERS EXPENSE!.....It's negative politicking at it's worst.
I'm not sure if it's true, but I really doubt it. Here's the deal. TDU has an agenda to gain control of the Teamsters, so they will try to spin anything in a negative light because they're not the ones making any gains. They'd like nothing more than for Hoffa and anyone associated with him to fail somehow so they can say "We told you so" and hope more Teamsters will vote for their candidates. It's a General Election year in the Teamsters and their candidate just barely got enough delegate votes to even get in the election.......it was something like 1600 for Hoffa-89 for Leedham. TDU desperately need something to build on and as always, they'll try anything negative to do it. They also refuse to disclose where their money comes from and one of their candidates for Vice President in the upcoming election was exposed for accepting $10,000.00 from a lawyer who works for a Union busting law firm. About 95% of Teamsters put no stock in what they say.
The APWA is a real comedy story. Keep in mind that the APWA represents exactly ZERO UPS workers and has never negotiated anything for anybody. It was apparently started by a few unhappy UPS workers from a right to work state who don't even pay dues to the Teamsters. Now there's a good example of Union Men, right? They need and ask for money from whomever will give them money and have no track record at running the day to day affairs of a Union. Oh, but they do promise (LOL!) that they'll get you a $7,000.00 to $8,000.00 per month retirement!
Pretty lofty goal for guys who won't even pay dues to the Union they belong to.
My point is that both of these groups are trying to make the Teamsters look bad to further their own agendas, which is to be the ones in power. Both would like nothing more than for Hoffa to fail at organizing UPSF....AT YOU AND YOUR CO-WORKERS EXPENSE!.....It's negative politicking at it's worst.
imported_krash
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stldude,
Well said brother, well said.
You da man!
Well said brother, well said.
You da man!
Recinded? Can that be done?That means ther only 50%?
Are the Teamsters going to do their best to get 51% at Indy?
Or are they going to look elsewhere,at another terminal for a more sure vote?
Kind of looks like this may be a long drawn out process?
Wow so many questions Apostolic?
Well look at it from my stand point,I'm not getting any younger,and I am interested to see how this union,non-union issue is going to play out for UPS Freight?
Are the Teamsters going to do their best to get 51% at Indy?
Or are they going to look elsewhere,at another terminal for a more sure vote?
Kind of looks like this may be a long drawn out process?
Wow so many questions Apostolic?
Well look at it from my stand point,I'm not getting any younger,and I am interested to see how this union,non-union issue is going to play out for UPS Freight?
Apo,Apostolic said:
As we've asked you in the past, please be patient.....this process will take some time. I would guess that Indy was picked because there are no jurisdictional disputes (meaning what Local has jurisdiction on the new Teamsters) and that Indy has more than likely overwhelmingly shown that they want the Teamsters in. That makes them a good starting point. I would also guess that UPSF has a big terminal there. You'll see it all unfold.
accelerator
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bamaboy said:
In mch we had one info meeting today at the local 633 and they reassured us there is no truth to this statement. If we get involved in the APWA you mite as well quit now, we will not get anywhere with the APWA.
My new jobclass is "Freight Redundancy Specialist".
This Person will have the ability
to tolerate mentally challenged dispatchers
who excell in the art of ignorance redundancy,
and can withstand driving 18 wheelers at
top end speeds in circles.
indy voting
they need to vote .they need to get all those lazy workers out of that term.They should have been fire the last time they walked out.if you think the union is so great go work some where else.your not going to get anymore than what you have now.teamster will tell you anything ask them to put what they promise you in writing and see what they say.:pirate2: :pirate2:
they need to vote .they need to get all those lazy workers out of that term.They should have been fire the last time they walked out.if you think the union is so great go work some where else.your not going to get anymore than what you have now.teamster will tell you anything ask them to put what they promise you in writing and see what they say.:pirate2: :pirate2:
concerned citizen
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It is time again for me to set the facts straight. Indy was not chosen to be the first terminal to organize. We are already organized. About 70% of our eligible employees have already signed cards and are cards have already been submitted to an arbitrater in D.C. for verification. We are the first terminal to complete the process under the COMPANY-WIDE card check agreement. What the Indy terminal HAS been selected for is to negotiate the Master Contract for UPS Freight. What this means is that we will negotiate the contract and as each terminal thereafter completes therr card signing process(50% + 1 of the eligible employees), then they will sign on to the Master Contract after negotiating any necessary local/regional additions.
The card check IS valid company wide, but each terminal has one opportunity to certify under the agreement. If the terminal fails to get the required amount of cards signed(50% + 1), then that terminal would have to revert to an NLRB vote. Many of you will probably ask how I know this to be fact, so I will explain. I am a member of the negotiating committee here in Indy, and we are set to begin contract negotiations in September.
I'd like to apologize for this being so lengthy, but I have something else to say. No matter if you are pro-union or anti-union, the important thing right now is for everyone to stick together so that we can work out an agreement that benefits us all. Don't just act on rumors you here off the grapevine, and for heaven's sake, don't sign anything or agree to anything unless you have thoroughly researched the facts so you can make a well-informed decision! Don't flush your future down the toilet!
That brings me to the AWPA. They appeared out of nowhere claiming they are an alternate UNION for UPS employees only. In fact, they are not even a legally recognized union at all. They are an association started by 2 disgruntled UPS drivers. They have no financial structure, no insurance plan, no pension plan, they have never been to a bargaining table or negotiated a contract. They have no actual members yet, nor do they even have an actual business address or telephone. Call the numbers on their pamphlets and they ring to the guys personal phones! They have made a lot of claims and promises, but in fact they have nothing. They were asking people to sign their sheet with the promise that they were trying to save the pension plan. Nowhere was it mentioned that by signing their sheet meant that they were agreeing to having their Teamsters cards rescinded. After finding out the truth about the AWPA, most of the employees who had previously signed union cards asked for their names be withdrawn from the AWPA list and re-signed new union cards with the Teamsters. I don't know what the intentions really are for the guys trying to start this AWPA up, but at this time I would urge everyone use this as an example of not jumping into anything without researching it first.
One last thing and I will shut up for now. This is for the former Motor Cargo terminals that have stayed certified and stayed union all this time. Thanks for hanging in there and I am very proud to consider myself your co-worker at UPS Freight! In a few months it will be my honor to present you guys with a nice fat contract. The same goes for all the other terminals that have completed their card check are or nearing completion. You guys all rock!
The card check IS valid company wide, but each terminal has one opportunity to certify under the agreement. If the terminal fails to get the required amount of cards signed(50% + 1), then that terminal would have to revert to an NLRB vote. Many of you will probably ask how I know this to be fact, so I will explain. I am a member of the negotiating committee here in Indy, and we are set to begin contract negotiations in September.
I'd like to apologize for this being so lengthy, but I have something else to say. No matter if you are pro-union or anti-union, the important thing right now is for everyone to stick together so that we can work out an agreement that benefits us all. Don't just act on rumors you here off the grapevine, and for heaven's sake, don't sign anything or agree to anything unless you have thoroughly researched the facts so you can make a well-informed decision! Don't flush your future down the toilet!
That brings me to the AWPA. They appeared out of nowhere claiming they are an alternate UNION for UPS employees only. In fact, they are not even a legally recognized union at all. They are an association started by 2 disgruntled UPS drivers. They have no financial structure, no insurance plan, no pension plan, they have never been to a bargaining table or negotiated a contract. They have no actual members yet, nor do they even have an actual business address or telephone. Call the numbers on their pamphlets and they ring to the guys personal phones! They have made a lot of claims and promises, but in fact they have nothing. They were asking people to sign their sheet with the promise that they were trying to save the pension plan. Nowhere was it mentioned that by signing their sheet meant that they were agreeing to having their Teamsters cards rescinded. After finding out the truth about the AWPA, most of the employees who had previously signed union cards asked for their names be withdrawn from the AWPA list and re-signed new union cards with the Teamsters. I don't know what the intentions really are for the guys trying to start this AWPA up, but at this time I would urge everyone use this as an example of not jumping into anything without researching it first.
One last thing and I will shut up for now. This is for the former Motor Cargo terminals that have stayed certified and stayed union all this time. Thanks for hanging in there and I am very proud to consider myself your co-worker at UPS Freight! In a few months it will be my honor to present you guys with a nice fat contract. The same goes for all the other terminals that have completed their card check are or nearing completion. You guys all rock!
concerned citizen
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This is partially true. The AWPA did gather 30+ signatures on their sheet from the Indy terminal. Only a small percentage of the signatures were from people who had previously signed Teamsters cards, and as I stated in my previous post, most of them have had their names removed from the list and have re-signed Teamsters cards. The rest of the signatures were from anti-union guys that have stated they would never sign union cards. Kind of odd don't you think?bamaboy said:
Teamster251
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Rebel said:
Rebel you already are one company.
You are UPS Freight, a seperate company from United Parcel Service. United Parcel Service is a seperate company under UPS Inc.
There is only one union, the Teamsters Union.
The APWA is not a union.
At last you will have one contract. One contract will cover all UPSF terminals in the end.
Teamster251
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allstar05 said:
AllStar when Overnite/UPSF becomes union are you going to go work somewhere else that's non-union?
I'm sure Estes, Con-Way, or FedEx would love to have your attitude onboard.
concerned citizen said:
:USA: This thing waving speaks for me. INDY is just one terminal. You guys have a long road ahead of you. But I'm sure there are a lot of guys and gals watching.
We still have a pretty bad taste in out mouth for the teamsters. Them spots are still there.
BusterNite
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Great post!!Think of the whole company while negotiateing this contract. We are ALL watching.concerned citizen said: