'Teamsters TV' - Teamsters Local 25

1842_Local25_Sum07.qxp 8/14/07 5:00 PM Page 8National UPS Committee Suspends NegotiationsPresident O’Brien, Business Agent SlicisContinue Supplemental TalksThe Teamsters National UPS Negotiating Committee,in which Local 25 President Sean M. O’Brien serves,suspended talks with UPS on July 11.Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa, Chairman of thecommittee, and Co-Chairman Ken Hall, Director of theParcel and Small Package Division, issued a statement onJuly 13 announcing the suspension in talks.“As you know, we entered into early negotiations inorder to address our members’ concerns that their pensionand health and welfare benefit funds were in jeopardy.Unfortunately, the company has been unable to present acomprehensive response to the union’s economic demandsbecause of differences between the company and severalbenefit funds over the amount of new company money thatis necessary to maintain and improve existing benefits,”according to the statement.“These disputes cannot be resolved by the UnionNegotiating Committee. And until they are resolvedbetween the company and those funds, the union cannotproceed with bargaining over the outstanding economic andlanguage proposals that are on the table. The union is preparedto resume negotiations as soon as the company isready to put forth an economic proposal that addresses theissue that brought us to the table to begin with: improvingthe stability of the benefit funds upon which our membersrely for health care coverage and retirement protection,” thestatement said.President Hoffa appointed O’Brien to serve on thenational committee.‘Only Option’“While it’s disappointing that the talks have been suspended,it was General President Hoffa’s and Co-Chairman Hall’sonly option,” O’Brien said.“We have gotten to the point thatit is senseless to move forward until the company and thebenefit funds resolve these disputes. There is way too muchon the line—the retirement security of our 3,000 Local 25UPS Teamsters and the more than 235,000 nationwide—forus to move forward without the necessary information. Iapplaud General President Hoffa and Co-Chairman Hall fortaking this bold, necessary step.”UPS Teamsters’ future security is of utmost importance,O’Brien said.“We knew going into these early negotiations that protectingour members’ retirement security and health carewould need creative solutions,” O’Brien said.“It takes timeto make this happen. I am prepared to do whatever it takesto make sure our members’ livelihoods are protected.”Supplements ContinueWhile negotiations at the National Agreement levelhave been suspended, both the union and companySupplemental Negotiating Committees have been instructedto continue to bargain over the working conditions coveredin the supplements.“Over the past several months, Local 25 Business AgentGeorge Slicis has joined me at the supplemental negotiations,and we will continue to hammer out the issues thatdirectly affect our Local 25 members in Chelmsford,Watertown, Somerville and Norwood,” O’Brien said.“I am honored to serve on the supplements committeewith President O’Brien,” Slicis said.“The national agreementcontains the important economic issues, but the supplementaddresses working conditions and issues close tohome. We are making steady progress on these local issues.”6 | The SPOKESMAN | SUMMER 2007 | www.teamsterslocal25.com