EventsCalendar ofJanuary 2007February 2007January 15, 2007January 21, 2007January 27, 2007February 14, 2007February 18, 2007February 19, 2007February 21, 2007February 24, 2007Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday observedGeneral Membership Meeting 10 a.m.Union Hall, 544 Main St., Charlestown, MA 02129Blood Bank 9 a.m. -2 p.m.Union Hall, 544 Main St., Charlestown, MA 02129James R. Hoffa BirthdayGeneral Membership Meeting 10 a.m.Union Hall 544 Main St. Charlestown, MA 02129President’s Day observedAsh WednesdayBlood Bank 9 a.m. -2 p.m.Union Hall, 544 Main St., Charlestown, MA 02129March 2007March 8, 2007March 17, 2007March 18, 2007March 24, 2007International Women’s DaySt. Patrick’s DayGeneral Membership Meeting 10 a.m.Union Hall, 544 Main St., Charlestown, MA 02129Blood Bank 9 a.m. -2 p.m.Union Hall 544, Main St., Charlestown, MA 02129April 2007April 1, 2007April 3, 2007April 6, 2007April 8, 2007April 12, 2007April 15, 2007April 15, 2007April 21, 2007April 22, 2007April 28, 2007Palm SundayPassover beginsGood FridayEaster SundayRetiree Chapter Breakfast 10 a.m.Irish American Hall in Malden, MA. 02148Holocaust Remembrance DayGeneral Membership Meeting 10 a.m.Union Hall, 544 Main St., Charlestown, MA 02129Blood Bank 9 a.m. -2 p.m.Union Hall, 544 Main St., Charlestown, MA 02129Earth DayWorkers Memorial Daywww.teamsterslocal<strong>25</strong>.com | WINTER 2007 | The SPOKESMAN | 21
United for aStrong ContractUPS Negotiations Resume In New YearAs we usher in the new year,UPS national contract negotiationsresume. Meanwhile,Teamster leaders, including <strong>Local</strong> <strong>25</strong>President Sean M. O’Brien, continueto collect and scrutinize informationin the fight to protect members’pensions and protect health care forworkers and retirees.“We will meet with representativesof the benefit funds so we can prepareproposals that address our members’goals,” said Ken Hall, Director of the<strong>Teamsters</strong> Parcel and Small PackageDivision. “Our members need to knowas soon as possible that they and theirfamilies will remain secure while workingat UPS and after they retire.”The next round of negotiations wasscheduled during the second week ofJanuary 2007.“This information from the fundrepresentatives is very important as weprepare to negotiate again,” Hall said.“We will continue to gather and analyzeinformation, and we will negotiateuntil our members’ concerns are fullyaddressed at the bargaining table.”O’Brien Reviews DataO’Brien, who was appointed toserve on the union’s National UPSNegotiating Committee, said he hasbeen poring over the data in preparationfor negotiations.“The benefit-fund information iscritical because it will help us negotiatea secure future for our members,”O’Brien said. “The company keeps onsaying that it doesn’t have enoughmoney, but UPS is more profitablethan ever. I will make sure the companyshares that wealth with <strong>Local</strong> <strong>25</strong>members and UPS <strong>Teamsters</strong> acrossthe country.”The UPS contract covers more than215,000 union members nationwide. Itis the largest private-sector labor agreementin the United States.“Our members have told us thatprotecting pensions and health careare their top priorities,” said Jim Hoffa,<strong>Teamsters</strong> General President. “That’swhy we are collecting data from thebenefit funds and analyzing that data.We will leave no stone unturned inour fight.”Hoffa serves as chairman of theunion’s UPS National NegotiatingCommittee, along with Hall. It isimportant for the union to protectmembers’ pensions and health carenow, they said.Hoffa and Hall said they are confidentthe union will be able to negotiatea contract that protects its memberswhile allowing UPS to grow. However,they made it clear that the union needsto guarantee that its members’ pensionsand health care are protected.“Our members’ interests areparamount—we will only accept anagreement that builds on our pastachievements at the bargaining table,”Hoffa said.Non-Economic ProposalsIn early October, the <strong>Teamsters</strong>National UPS Negotiating Committeeexchanged non-economic contractproposals with company negotiatorsin Washington, D.C. during the secondday of contract talks.The non-economic issues addresssafety and health, working conditions,subcontracting, the company’s use oftechnology and other areas. Both sidesare reviewing each other’s proposalsand will discuss the issues during afuture meeting.However, before the non-economicissues are negotiated, the <strong>Teamsters</strong>Union wants to first negotiate pensionsand health care.“Pensions and health care are ourmost critical issues,” Hall said. “We willprotect our members’ pensions andhealth care and then move on to theseother important issues. The companyneeds to show us it is serious aboutprotecting our members’ futures. Wewill not accept any proposals that putour members’ security at risk.”22 | The SPOKESMAN | WINTER 2007 | www.teamsterslocal<strong>25</strong>.com