saddletramp
July 3rd, 2006, 11:49
Last week was the 27th Teamster Convention in Las Vegas. This convention is for the purpose of nominating a new IBT executive board, such as General President, Vice Presidents, and Trustees to the National Board.
We also learned about, and voted on many major issues relating to the IBT's business. One major annoucement was the deal struck between UPS and the Teamsters for the ability to card check and nuetrality between UPS Frieght and the Organizing Dept of the IBT.
This means that all locals in the country can now approach the workers at the old Overnite and Motor Cargo terminals with info for them to decide if they want to join the Teamsters. Most workers at these companies have already approached the IBT about becoming Teamsters. This is great news for these people, as it will bring them closer to the same wages and benefits that all UPS'ers enjoy. It also shows the great working relationship that the small parcel director Ken Hall has with UPS CEO Mike Eskew.
The other major item was UPS agreeing to allowing all the Menlo Logistics operations that UPS purchased to be brought under one contract umbrella nationwide, as they now operate under 29 seperate contracts.
We also heard alot about the cooperative work that the Teamsters are doing in organizing efforts with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the Int. Brotherhood of Laborers, and the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW).
All in all it was a great week with the finality being that Jim Hoffa and his opponent Tom Leedham facing off this fall for the position of General President for a 5 year term. It is pretty obvious to all there that Hoffa will retain his position as the opponent got about 5% of the delagate vote to get his name on the ballot for this falls elections. That is too bad as this election will cost the IBT about 10 million dollars to hold, and that money could be well spent on other activities, but contrary to alot of peoples perceptions, the IBT is a democraticly ran organization and has no choice but to follow the election guidlines.
You can read all about it at:
http://www.teamsters.org/
We also learned about, and voted on many major issues relating to the IBT's business. One major annoucement was the deal struck between UPS and the Teamsters for the ability to card check and nuetrality between UPS Frieght and the Organizing Dept of the IBT.
This means that all locals in the country can now approach the workers at the old Overnite and Motor Cargo terminals with info for them to decide if they want to join the Teamsters. Most workers at these companies have already approached the IBT about becoming Teamsters. This is great news for these people, as it will bring them closer to the same wages and benefits that all UPS'ers enjoy. It also shows the great working relationship that the small parcel director Ken Hall has with UPS CEO Mike Eskew.
The other major item was UPS agreeing to allowing all the Menlo Logistics operations that UPS purchased to be brought under one contract umbrella nationwide, as they now operate under 29 seperate contracts.
We also heard alot about the cooperative work that the Teamsters are doing in organizing efforts with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the Int. Brotherhood of Laborers, and the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW).
All in all it was a great week with the finality being that Jim Hoffa and his opponent Tom Leedham facing off this fall for the position of General President for a 5 year term. It is pretty obvious to all there that Hoffa will retain his position as the opponent got about 5% of the delagate vote to get his name on the ballot for this falls elections. That is too bad as this election will cost the IBT about 10 million dollars to hold, and that money could be well spent on other activities, but contrary to alot of peoples perceptions, the IBT is a democraticly ran organization and has no choice but to follow the election guidlines.
You can read all about it at:
http://www.teamsters.org/