Partnership for the Future - Teamsters Local 25

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6867_Local25_Fall07.qxp 12/14/07 11:09 AM Page 6Business Agent ReportsBusiness AgentTom MariI have started negotiations withthe newly organized Kraft PowerCorporation in Woburn. Inmid-September, 20 road servicetechnicians joined Local 25.The company has been takingbenefits away from workers.They are seeking a strong contract that will prevent thecompany from taking advantage of them. They want tobe protected in writing.I will be starting negotiations soon with The BostonGlobe. I will also be starting negotiations for the Saugus911 operators, who joined Local 25 in September. TheSaugus group is the fourth group of 911 operators tojoin Local 25 in the past year. Member-to-memberorganizing helped with this organizing campaign, andwe will win another strong contract.For the City of Cambridge contract campaign, Ihave gotten back about 90 out of the 330 surveys I sentout. Thanks to those of you who returned surveys. Yourinput is critical in the process. You know the issues betterthan anyone. I had a proposal meeting onSaturday, December 1 and we are expecting to startthese negotiations in early January.DHL contract talks are ongoing and the rumors areflying. If you have questions or concerns about whatyou are hearing, please call John Murphy or I beforeyou buy into these rumors.I reported back in January that the police officersfrom North Reading had filed to decertify from theunion the same week I took the group over. PresidentSean O’Brien came to me and said, “Be there every dayuntil it is fixed—get it done.” Well, I am pleased toannounce 11 months later that the decertification petitionhas been withdrawn. Once again, we have proventhat Teamsters Local 25 is the right choice and providesthe best representation available.Happy holidays to all.Business AgentRobert FabrizioCongratulations to theCohasset safety 911 dispatcherson their first contractasmembersofTeamsters Local 25. TheContract was ratified onNovember 2. We have sixnewmemberstoaddtoourgrowing family. I look for-ward to representing all of you.I am pleased to announce that the Medford PublicSchool security guards have ratified a new three-yearcontract. Myself, along with my steward Bill Mazaka,were able to secure increases in wages each year, alongwith increases in longevity pay, and also an increase intheir uniform allowance. We were also successful in gettingthe superintendent to work with my steward toestablish the number of members needed during eachsnow emergency.President Sean O’Brien has assigned me the newlyorganized mechanics at Peter Pan Bus Lines. I look forwardto representing these new members and to negotiatetheir first contract.I, along with Business Agent Bob McAllister, willagain be asking everyone to remember our brothers andsisters who have fallen on tough times during thisupcoming holiday season. We would like to make thisyear’s Toys for Tots the most successful yet. Iknow that we will make that happen with the help fromall of you.I would like to take this opportunity to thank all mystewards for their help in my first year as your businessagent. I look forward to representing you in the comingnew year.I hope you all have a safe and happy holiday season.4 | The SPOKESMAN | FALL 2007 | www.teamsterslocal25.com
6867_Local25_Fall07.qxp 12/14/07 11:09 AM Page 7Business AgentDave PietroforteThe contract negotiations fornine produce companies that Irepresent ended successfully. Allthe contracts are four years inlength and they have been ratifiedby the members. We won health,welfare and pension contributionincreases, which was a big achievement. We also won wageincreases.For the town of Acton 911 operators, negotiations aremoving ahead well. We’ve had seven meetings so far, andthe next meeting is scheduled in early December. At theDecember meeting, I hope to reach agreement on the fewoutstanding issues that remain.At Arrow Paper in Wilmington and at MS Walker inNorwood, we’ve had three contract meetings so far. We’vereached tentative agreement on much of the contract language,with economics still to be negotiated.We’ve sent out contract surveys recently to workers atU.S. Foods in Everett, Costa Fruit in Charlestown andBrigham’s ice cream in Arlington. I look forward to hearingwhat the top issues are from members.At Lilly Transportation in North Reading, I am keepinga close watch on the effect of Ryder Transportation's reportedpurchase of Lilly. I want to know how this deal willaffect our members, and I’m talking to management aboutit. I’ll be keeping members informed.I’ve had some arbitration victories recently. At the city ofEverett, the arbitrator ruled in our favor, forcing the city topost for a bargaining unit position. At G.D. Mathews, anarbitration ruling involving a medical-leave issue has beenpostponed. The delay has to do with splitting the cost ofhandling the case with the company. The issue is in litigationnow.Another arbitration case at US Foods is scheduled to beheard in early February, 2008.I have filed two more arbitration cases at the city ofEverett involving two separate suspensions affecting clericalworkers. The dates are yet to be determined in those cases.Finally, negotiations will be starting soon for the citiesof Everett and Chelsea. I will be sending more informationsoon to workers.Thank you to everyone who helped make us a continuingforce for justice in your workplaces, and it’s been greatmeeting many of you at your work sites.Happy holidays.Business RepresentativeGerry GodinMy name is Gerry Godin, and Iam the new BusinessRepresentative at Local 25.I previously was Secretary-Treasurer/Principal Officer atLocal 379 in Charlestown untilour merger with Local 25, whichtook effect November 1.I’ve been busy working with Local 25 President SeanM. O’Brien on the merger. I am very excited about themerging of two great Teamster local unions. Both localshave a long, proud history. As one local, I think our opportunitiesto grow and flourish are limitless. I look forwardto working with President O’Brien and his entire team toserve the membership.As part of the merger, we’ve created two new divisionswithin Local 25—refuse and construction. We will besending out surveys to our solid waste and constructionmembers seeking their input on upcoming meetings andwhat issues need to be addressed during the meetings.Our goal is to organize new members in the solid wasteand construction industries and make sure we protect theinterests of our existing members. We want to protect thework we already have and create more work opportunities.In other business, I started contract negotiations inmid-November with the Watertown Public WorksDepartment covering 45 members.I recently settled two arbitration cases. One was atHeating and Oil Partners in Chelsea. The case involved anunjust termination. We successfully got the member’s jobback with back wages.The other case was also an unjust termination. Itinvolved a worker at Independent Pipe in Canton. He wasout of work for 14 months. We won his job back and$60,000 in back wages.I look forward to meeting many of you in the nearfuture and working to fight for your rights. I am also excitedabout moving forward together with the added clout oftwo great local unions merged into a bigger and betterLocal 25.Happy holidays and I look forward to my first full yearas your business representative.www.teamsterslocal25.com | FALL 2007 | The SPOKESMAN | 5
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Partnership for the Future - Teamsters Local 25

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