Steward of the Rock
TB Veteran
- Credits
- 231
On April 23rd and 24th, our Local here in Little Rock, Ar. had discussions about the ABF Tentative Agreement. In attendance was the new Southern Region Freight Coordinator (L. Grissom). The Tentative Agreement was covered for the National and the Southern Region Supplements.
(1) Article 3. Section 7- I am sure you have already read that the language is being removed from this contract (if it passes) that designates a specific area of the dock (at larger facilities) for Utility Employees to exchange their freight with other Utility Employees and that all Non-Utility freight will be staged in a specific area of the dock. This language removal will allow Utility Employees to work at any area of the dock, to unload the freight they need from a break-out, and load freight to a standard load-out. This is dock work that is supposed to be performed by that terminals dock employees, not Utility Employees. Mr. Grissom verified that this will be the case if this contract passes. This language removal allows the Utility Employee to break a Dock Employees classification. This is no different than one of us going to a different terminal every day and doing their city/dock work.
(2) Article 8. Section 1- The language that prevents the Employer from starting their own grievance procedure is being removed. This will allow ABF to start it's own Grievance procedure. They already have this at UPS (package) and from what I am told the majority do not approve of it.
(3) Article 29. MOU-While the "Red-Circle" language is changed, it still leaves drivers at home while a Purchase Transport driver hauls ABF freight. There should never be a situation that leaves an ABF driver at home while an Outside vendor hauls ABF freight.
(4) The whole National Economic Settlement is a joke from the pay, to the pension (freeze) to the health & welfare contributions, to the Profit Sharing Bonus. On the vacation language, Mr. Grissom explained it like this. "If your anniversary date is before April 1st, you must work to your next anniversary date and then 60% to earn the extra week back. If your anniversary date is April 1st or after, you will have to work 60% from your anniversary to earn the extra week". So, in a nut shell, no one will get the extra week until late 2018 and the vast majority will not get it until 2019.
(5) Southern Region Article 42. Section 2- In the past contracts, we have always had the "any five days out of seven days worked" formula to return to full-time status from a lay-off. The language is now being changed so that this formula only applies to the Distribution Centers (Little Rock, Dallas, and Atlanta). So, if you are not employed at one of these three Distibution Centers in the Southern Region and get laid-off, there is no fomula to guarantee that you will be worked back on.
At no time during these meetings did Mr. Grissom try to encourage a yes or a no vote. He stated that he was there to answer any questions that we may have.
This is why my vote will be a "NO".
(1) Article 3. Section 7- I am sure you have already read that the language is being removed from this contract (if it passes) that designates a specific area of the dock (at larger facilities) for Utility Employees to exchange their freight with other Utility Employees and that all Non-Utility freight will be staged in a specific area of the dock. This language removal will allow Utility Employees to work at any area of the dock, to unload the freight they need from a break-out, and load freight to a standard load-out. This is dock work that is supposed to be performed by that terminals dock employees, not Utility Employees. Mr. Grissom verified that this will be the case if this contract passes. This language removal allows the Utility Employee to break a Dock Employees classification. This is no different than one of us going to a different terminal every day and doing their city/dock work.
(2) Article 8. Section 1- The language that prevents the Employer from starting their own grievance procedure is being removed. This will allow ABF to start it's own Grievance procedure. They already have this at UPS (package) and from what I am told the majority do not approve of it.
(3) Article 29. MOU-While the "Red-Circle" language is changed, it still leaves drivers at home while a Purchase Transport driver hauls ABF freight. There should never be a situation that leaves an ABF driver at home while an Outside vendor hauls ABF freight.
(4) The whole National Economic Settlement is a joke from the pay, to the pension (freeze) to the health & welfare contributions, to the Profit Sharing Bonus. On the vacation language, Mr. Grissom explained it like this. "If your anniversary date is before April 1st, you must work to your next anniversary date and then 60% to earn the extra week back. If your anniversary date is April 1st or after, you will have to work 60% from your anniversary to earn the extra week". So, in a nut shell, no one will get the extra week until late 2018 and the vast majority will not get it until 2019.
(5) Southern Region Article 42. Section 2- In the past contracts, we have always had the "any five days out of seven days worked" formula to return to full-time status from a lay-off. The language is now being changed so that this formula only applies to the Distribution Centers (Little Rock, Dallas, and Atlanta). So, if you are not employed at one of these three Distibution Centers in the Southern Region and get laid-off, there is no fomula to guarantee that you will be worked back on.
At no time during these meetings did Mr. Grissom try to encourage a yes or a no vote. He stated that he was there to answer any questions that we may have.
This is why my vote will be a "NO".
