How does your (local) union settle contract disputes?

[Omaha Steve]

We have the choice of the local labor board or to go to binding arbitration. Some unions go to court etc. I'm just wondering what others do?

OS

[cpamomfromtexas]

1. Depends on whether they are governed by Railway Labor Act or not

Airline unions fall under this. The contracts under the RLA do not expire, but become amendable. This tilts things in favor of management which explains how the pilots at American Airlines are still working for 1992 wages. Don't laugh, I have several clients that are affected and I've compared the charts and frankly it is shocking.

[Truth Talks]

2. Caves In

My union (the Teamsters) just pretends to help us while selling us out to the plantation owner.

[Omaha Steve]

3. Welcome to the Labor Forum

And welcome to the DU too. Tell us your story. There are several positive posts about the Teamsters here. Here is your chance.

[Earth Bound Misfit]

4. I wouldn't hold your breath Steve...

**sniff** **sniff**...I smell a PIZZA delivery in 5...4...3...

[Truth Talks]

5. Where do I begin?

My experiences with unions have all been bad (as in horrific).

As a teacher, I discovered that the National Education Association is yet another institution taken over by Corporate America. After I got laid off, I went to work for UPS and quickly discovered that the Teamsters are a NEA clone.

One of teachers' biggest complaints about the NEA was stagnant salaries; they increased, but very slowly, scarcely keeping up with the rising cost of living, if at all. UPS's record is even worse. Starting salary was $14 some 20-30 years ago - back when $14 was worth a lot more than it is today. When I started, about three years ago, I was paid $8.50 an hour. Our latest contract freezes that salary for the next five years, PLUS, it strips new hires of benefits for their first year. So much for "solidarity."

Another interesting thing is the Central States Pension Fund (I think that's the correct name; I may not have all the details correct). Anyway, it's my understanding that the contract was influenced by the Central States Pension Fund, which had been "mismanaged" by - guess who? - the Teamsters.

I attended a meeting where the new contract was discussed. We were told the union would mail out ballots on a certain date. In fact, they mailed them out TEN DAYS earlier, leaving us little time to discuss or fight the contract.

The president of the Teamsters is Jimmy Hoffa, son of the late Jimmy Hoffa, whose mob connections are no secret.

When I attended an initiates meeting, some idiot said, "Now you've probably heard stories about the Teamsters protecting bad workers. I just want you to know that's not true."

LIAR!

At my workplace, the Teamsters excel at nothing BUT protecting bad workers. I would describe one of my colleagues as the biggest *sshole in the building. He seems to get more protection and special favors than everyone else in my work area combined. Did I mention that he's the shop steward's best friend? The shop steward's other friends are also lazy, stupid and obnoxious. If I had the authority, I'd hire them on the spot, not just because they're lousy workers (when they're working at all), but because they negatively impact their co-workers in many ways.

I was also shocked to learn that we can no longer go on strike; apparently the Teamsters found some clever way to give up our right to strike.

I keep my eyes and ears open and take notes. I could tell you many more stories about the Teamsters. In summary, I and my fellow employees get screwed every day, and the Reamsters do little more than offer lame advice ("Never trust a supervisor," "Don't sign any papers!").

I have nothing good to say about the Teamsters. For the record, I'm not anti-union. I regard unions as a necessary evil, similar to government. But I will never support a corrupt union, and I'm beginning to wonder if there are any major unions that are NOT corrupt these days. I would like to learn more about the Wobblies. They certainly had a good reputation early in the last century.

[Omaha Steve]

6. Have you thought about contacting the NLRB?

You have the right to complain and start an investigation. I'm just headed to bed. I'll get back to this tomorrow night.

[Truth Talks]

7. Yes.

I've thought about it, but I probably won't. There's so much corruption in the system, I don't know who to trust.

Take OSHA (OCEA?), for example. (I'm referring to the organization that supposedly looks after worker's health and welfare.) If they want to know what's going on, they should drop in unannounced. Instead, they make a conspicuous entrance and stand there watching as the supervisor instructs us to do everything differently. Where you would normally see a huge pile of bags of mail on the floor, the floor is clear. Instead of throwing bags on a slide, we're told to gently place them.

I should also point out that I'm already a victim of retaliation - outside the work place. I don't know if UPS or the Teamsters were behind it, but it definitely opened my eyes. It didn't frighten me into submission - on the contrary, it succeeded only in pissing me off. But I'm careful about picking my fights.

[demosincebirth]

9. The "Old Guard" (Hoffa Sr. and goons) still rules the teamsters

There was a brief period in the nineties when things looked promising for the rank and file. Then the Hoffa Sr. bunch and the old guard got back to their old tricks of crookery, deceit, and intimidation to remove a reformer (Rod Carey) from the leadership of the Teamsters Union. Hoffa Jr.was elected without ever working a day in his life as a teamster. This is just the very tip of the berg. Remember, "the squeaky wheel gets the grease."

[demosincebirth]

8. In many teamster locals, you have to yell to be heard.

[Omaha Steve]

10. I almost forgot about this

Gus is the regular UPS driver to my plant at work. I didn't get to talk to him today. I do know he made $80,000 last year and considers himself lucky to be where he is. I won't get the chance to speak to him until next week about the Teamsters.

[Truth Talks]

11. Class System

There's a huge gulf between UPS drivers and mail handlers (people who process mail at a central location). Drivers get far better pay, hours and everything else. Which isn't to say their situation is perfect. Ironically (considering our economic crisis), many drivers are complaining about being forced to work too many hours. My co-workers and I have the opposite problem; most of us are stuck in part-time positions and desperately jump at any chance to "double-shift" (work a two shifts in a row).

UPS is arguably now a THREE-class system, since the latest contract stripped new hires of benefits.