The Local Scene TEAMSTERS LOCAL #696 For Members, Family and Friends of Teamsters Local 676 101 Crescent Boulevard, Collingswood, NJ 08108 WILLIAM A. MOORE, PRESIDENT 856-964-2101 Quarterly Newsletter Volume 11 Issue 1 www.ibtlocal676.org Spring 2014 Important Message From Our President The portrayal of the trucking industry throughout the United States, renders the depictions of trucks and truck drivers, as images of masculinity as a common theme. The portrayal of truck drivers ranged from the heroes of the 1950s, living a life of freedom, supporting their families on the open road to truck drivers being glorified as modern day cowboys and rebels during the peak of trucker lifestyle in the 1970s. DurHoward W. Wells ing the 1980’s and 1990’s the trucking industry's image began to diminish, and their reputation suffered. Local #676 Annual Legal Day LTL (Less than truck load) and the trucking industry continues to struggle to remain profitable and remain in business. Fuel costs, road taxes, tolls, insurance cost, healthcare cost, equipment and retirement costs have drastically risen since deregulation in the 1980’s. Good Union freight companies face fierce competition from non-union logistic companies and other big freight companies. The union companies like ABF, Yellow Roadway and UPS Freight negotiate decent wages, healthcare and retirement benefits with the Teamsters and are undercut by the Fed-Ex Ground, J.B. Hunt, LandAir EXPRESS and other companies who pay much less per hour for their drivers compensation packages. Lawyers from the Law Firm of Williams, Willig, & Davidson Will be available for Free Consultations on most legal matters Civil, domestic, real estate, etc. Sunday March 16, 2014 “No Union” contract also makes these drivers “at will” employees with no forty hour work week or daily guarantee in some companies. The owners profit and the worker struggles in being able to support their family and maintain family finances. It is truly a sad day when a good union driving job like those at YRC (Yellow Roadway Company) are in serious jeopardy as they are today. The YRC members voted on more concessions on the weekend of January 25th and 26th. Fortunately, the members passed the new contract with a 2 to 1 margin. The passing of this contract will preserve 30,000 Teamster jobs throughout the country. Breakfast will be served 9:30 AM Spring 2014 Meeting Schedule March 16th April 23rd (Wed. Night) May 18th We continue the uphill battle with the rising insurance costs with the public sector. We need to wake up and pay attention to politics. With one strike of the pen, our way of living a union life can change and our rights could be taken away. November will be here before we know it. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me at 856-964-2101 or 866-275-0676. I hope to see you all at our annual Legal Day meeting on Sunday, March 16, 2014 and at the annual Teamster picnic on Sunday, June 8, 2014. Fraternally yours, Howard W. Wells President/ Principal Officer ~ Local 676 Protect Your License No Meetings during June, July, August p.2 Contents Veteran’s Ceremony & Retirees p.3 Scholarship info/ Picnic & UPS Freight p.4 Meetings, Members, & Miscellaneous Buy American The Local Scene For Members, Family and Friends of Teamsters Local 676 At the November 2013 meeting, President Howard W. Wells and the Executive Board had the pleasure to honor and pay special tribute to Local 676 members that are veterans and have served for our country. Our fellow veterans have done everything asked of them in their mission to serve our country and it is never too late to say thank you. Thank You! We were honored to have the Runnemede VFW Post 3324 and two Marine Color Guards come and assist with the unveiling ceremony as well as present Local 676 with an American Flag. We have had an outpouring of members contacting the Local with their names, branch of service and years served. If you are a veteran, please contact the Local and provide this information and we will be sure to add you to the plaque. RECENT RETIREES Mark Devine ~ L3 Communications ~ 43 years With President Howard W. Wells Protect Your License Albert Clements Camden Iron & Metal Howarth Law Adams Wholesalers Wilmer Ward Jr. PATCO John Waring SYSCO Kenneth Wyatt DiMedio Lime Co. James Zulker Cornell & Co. Buy American Page 2 The Local Scene For Members, Family and Friends of Teamsters Local 676 UPS Freight Teamsters have voted overwhelmingly to ratify a new national five-year master agreement which increases wages, significantly strengthens pension benefits and takes on the issue of subcontracting. Local 676 The vote, which was 5,222 to 2,107, was held at local union halls during the week- Annual end. Participation was 69 percent, which far exceeded the previous ratification vote last June, which was 58 percent. “UPS Freight members told us their top concerns were pensions and protecting their work, and this new contract addresses those issues head on,” said Ken Hall, Teamsters General Secretary-Treasurer and Package Division Director. “Today’s vote reflects the strength of the new agreement. It’s an industry-leading contract.” The new five-year national contract, which covers 13,000 UPS Freight workers, improves and protects wages, benefits and working conditions at a time when most freight companies are making cuts. (cited from IBT W ebsite January 2014) Howard W. Wells President Scholarships *************************** Eligibility High School Senior who is the child of a Local 676 member in good standing. Applications Please call Debbi at the Hall to receive an application Local #676 Members & Family Picnic Must be completed and returned by May 02, 2014 The Annual Picnic will once again be held at the JCC Camp in Medford, NJ Date: Sunday June 8th, 2014 It is one of the characteristics of a free and democratic nation that it have free and independent labor unions. Franklin D. Roosevelt Due to the rising cost ($35.00 per ticket) and the overwhelming popularity, the union is forced to start charging $10.00 per ticket. James R. Hoffa Each family is entitled to get (up to) Five tickets at the $10.00 rate for each ticket for immediate family only. Memorial Any additional tickets purchased for anyone outside of the immediate family or over the entitled five tickets, will cost $35.00 per ticket, as it has in the past. Tickets will need to be paid in advance and picked up prior to Picnic Day. Call Debbi at the Hall (856-964-2101) for tickets & information on or after April 01st ~~ Cutoff for reservations May 30th. Scholarship Please call Debbi at the Hall to receive an application Applications must be received in Washington, D.C. by March 30th, 2014 If You Will Be Out of Work More Than a Month … Call For A Withdrawal Card Page 3 The Local Scene For Members, Family and Friends of Teamsters Local 676 ~~~Peace on Earth ~~ Goodwill to Men ~~~ Holiday Time in Collingswood Continuing a longstanding tradition the Local 676 elves (Pres. Howard W. Wells & the Executive Board) delivered toys and Christmas Cheer to the Collingswood Children’s Center & Berlin First Student to be distributed to the less fortunate in our local area. The Local also hosted a luncheon for the members after the December Meeting. We hope that the upcoming year will be a healthy & prosperous one for all of our members and their families. ~ When you extend your goodwill in every direction, regardless of circumstances, you begin to see that we are all one. ~ Local 676 Retirees Club Our Local 676 Retiree Club has an E-Board made up of 7 volunteers. They meet once a month (3rd Wednesday) of every month to discuss finances and club business. If you are a retiree or know of any 676 retiree, come on out and join them, You may meet some old friends and/or make some new ones. Pat McCarty ~ IBT Int’l Pres. Jim Hoffa ~ John Dickinson You can call Debbi at the union hall for any further information. America Works Best ….. When Americans Work Page 4