July 31, 2008

BY FRANCINE KNOWLES Staff Reporter

United Parcel Service reached a tentative agreement with Chicago-based Teamsters Local 705 on a new contract covering roughly 11,000 drivers, package handlers and other part-time and full-time workers just hours ahead of a strike deadline, the parties said Thursday.

Workers' hourly pay currently ranges between roughly $8.50 and $28. That would rise $4 over the life of the five-year contract, Local 705 Secretary-Treasurer Steve Pocztowski said. The deal also includes improved pension benefits, an extra week of vacation plus an extra day off, he said.

The proposal will be voted on by workers within the next five weeks, Pocztowski said.

The union had vowed to strike at 12:01 Friday morning if an agreement was not reached.

Full story here http://www.suntimes.com/business/1084486,ups073108.article

We got screwed by poctowski. All his big talk and t-shirts. He got booted out of negotiations by Ken Hall. What a bad deal. UPS walked all over us.

What part of the new contract do you think you get screwed on? Im not trying to sound crass, I just didnt have all the details on what you were asking for , what Steve told you you would get and what you finally got.

673,

I know with ours we had some substantial give backs that did'nt offset the so called "gains"
This is possibly the case here where they "highlight" a couple of positives and hide the bushell of negatives.
I'm sure some of our brothers from 705 will fill us in.

Are you out of your mind? We gained back cross town feeder work which was given away by the previous administration.
We gained better subcontracting language, no subcontracting when we have union employees willing and available hours.
Any employee that gets laid off will retain their current pay rate.
Feeder can now bump down into any building in 705s territory for layoffs, before you could only bump in your district.
We now have expediated arbitration, so when you go to panel and both sides deadlock theres a 5th person there that will make a decision right than and there
no more dragging it out 1 to 2 years.
We gained an extra week vacation for 30 years of service, and everyone gained an extra optional paid day off.
Any fulltime employee can now bid up or down into another ftime job.
Supervisor working does not contain "act of god" or "emergency condition" language that the national has, and is paid at double time.
We have 9.5 language that pays triple time with no opt in or opt out language.
Our 8 hour days are 8 hours not 8 and a half like the nationals.
We have a letter of understanding in the back of the contract stating that air drivers cant deliver or pick up grounds.
Taw language, that you must be scheduled 1 hour before or 1 hour after your bid scheduled start time while on taw, and not for more than 29 days.
18 mothns for ptimers to get family coverage which under current contract is 36 months.
We no longer have to address a concern with ups, the employee can file a grievance immediately with the union.
And yes we excepted the same economic package that the national got.
We have job protection language protecting all jobs created since 1997, no 22.3 jobs will be eliminated.

These were offers from ups that we refused to accept.
Seniority would be measured by continous length of service, which meant if you went on comp, disability or fmla you lost your seniority.
Ptime package car drivers, also air drivers that could do package car work, if you went on fmla you would have a job not your job, 15 cents and hour wage increase every 6 months, $12 bucks per week into the pension fund, on call feeder boards the list goes on and you say that steve sold you out? You might want to learn how to spell the name of the man that just got you the best contract in 705s history, its Steve Pocztowski.Ken hall did not negotiate our contract, ken was invited to sit in and see how it was going, and yea ken explained the importance on expediated arbitrations and its benefits. Thats it! Ken hall was there showing support for 705 and nothing more. get your head out of your ass!

Let me ask you guys does this sound better than what you got on the national level?

Can you point out were steve and the committee went backwards in any language? You wont be able to nothing was traded away!

I would have to say it sounds better.

Did they elliminate 22.3 langiage? What about drop shippers?

Good job to 705 and all who had a part in it. While that xtra vacation week is great, I don't see any pkg. drvr. attaining 30 years anymore and the company knows it. Nevertheless I believe Pat Flynn has an agreement that if 705 receives anything above and beyond what 710 received, they'll get it too. They made that agreement during UPS freight negotiations. I'm trying to find out if it carries over to UPS pkg. One thing I noticed that 710 received that no other local has and that's the elimination of the word dispatch in the 9.5 language. While they'll have opt in or out option and triple time penalty, removal of the word dispatch is HUGE !!!! Enforcement will be on the drivers and the grievance panel. Honesty is paramount on both sides of the fence. If this works the company can no longer say drivers will drag their feet.( Like they love being in that pkg. car any longer than they have too.) The company has enough technology now to prove that anyway.

We now have stronger 22.3 language and language protecting these jobs from elimination. Not sure what you mean by drop shippers, if you could explain i could answer.

705 does not have dispatch in 9.5 language either. Its hours worked, i would never be able to file 9.5 because we all know that ups gives the bonus to those that they want.

Folks,

I'm of the opinion that the rank and file's input as well as rank and file sitting in on these bogus beginning negotiations contributed greatly to this agreement. Pocztowski is your leader, but... he counts on you, the rank and file to be his eyes,ears, and voice. To have over 3,000 UPSER's turn out on a Sunday for a Strike Vote, is proof of the strength you now have.

I'm not that well versed in what workers have been subjected to under the contract Zero and Nightwine screwed up in 2002, but, the above looks to me as though the real problem areas such as layoffs, district moves etc. have been straightened out. Will Brown live up to this agreement? I doubt it they didn't live up to the last contract in spite of its beneficial benefit to Brown. They always push for more? I'd say Pocztowski did a stand up job especially keeping everyone abreast of the goings on as posted on the 705 web-site. Just an opinion from an old retired fool in Monee.

I also understand that retiree medical benefits stayed the same which surprised me tremendously as UPSERS in Central States and other areas are paying a great deal more than the $50.00 a Month or $150.00 a quarter for medical benefits. I'm 67 so there is no concern for me but... those close to retirement or under 65, should feel relieved.

All in all a great job by all in support of themselves, their leaders, and a credit to Pocztowski. When ratified, its up to you, the rank and file to enforce it?

Doug

Douglas Page Chapman Sr
6619 Dralle Road
Monee, IL 60449-9431
708-534-0490-Home
708-359-9592-Cell
Advocate PUPS Inc & NABER Inc http://pupsinc.homestead.com/naber1.html
36-1/2 years member in good standing IBT Locals 705 & 710
Over 55 years experience UPS/BROWN 30 years an employee, and 18+ years when Dad was an employee. Retired 13 years.

705,

Drop Shipper are shiney wheels who deliver our pkg's in there air trailers. It's also called zone skipping