IBT leadership is not interested in a good contract for UPS Freight Teamsters.

[Skeeter Barnes]

Last edited Thu Jan 9, 2014, 08:12 PM - Edit history (1)

After workers voted down the previous tentative agreement last year, Hoffa / Hall bring virtually the same contract back to the rank and file. It was made clear to them that the members would not tolerate a two tier wage structure for the same job and subcontracting had to be drastically cut back, if not eliminated. Under this agreement, full time road drivers could (will) still be sitting at home not working while outside contractors haul the freight. And now they won't allow members to vote this garbage contract down by mail, forcing members to vote at the local. Hoffa knows this agreement is garbage and he's hoping people won't show up to vote NO!

There are two substantive changes since the coast-to-coast rejection. First, on page 23, there is a change to allow senior drivers who have final average wages over $73,000 to retain an enhanced pension. (See italic language on page 23; Article 25, Section 6)

The second change is to tweak the language of the two-tier wages for proposed Line Hall Drivers (LHD). This change is to Article 44 Subcontracting. See the italic language on pages 32-34. The changes since the first disastrous proposal are in italics.

One union rep asked Ken Hall if the new language would eliminate subcontracting. It will not. There will be a new two-tier scale for road drivers that will still allow subcontracting. So the company has two options: they can subcontract, or hire LHDs at essentially nonunion wages.

Members had set four goals for improvement:

Improved pension benefits. The new deal provides some protection for a small minority of drivers, and no change from the first proposal for over 80% of Teamsters.

Elimination of subcontracting and no LHD drivers who will be paid essentially nonunion wages. The new deal tweaks the language to tighten it up, but leaves it basically intact and continues to allow subcontracting.

Wage increases at least in line with UPS package, as we got in the 2008 contract. No change here.
No payment of premiums for health coverage. No change here.

http://upsfreighttalk.org/node/76

edited to add:

Local 651 in Lexington, KY will not endorse the new (same old) agreement.

http://www.teamsters651.org/docs/UPS%20Freight%20Contract%20Rejection%20Memo%201.8.14.pdf