Another Big Political Year

As you know, we have another big political year ahead of us. Again, the right wing forces and Republicans have put forth a ballot proposition designed to take away workers’ rights to participate in the electoral process. This proposition, like those we have defeated before, is deceptively called “Payroll Protection.” In reality, however, it should be called “Payroll Deception.” Last year, the Supreme Court ruled that corporations (our bosses) and rich individuals can contribute whatever unlimited amounts of money they want to candidates and “Super PACs.”

This proposition dares to attempt to prevent you and me from voluntarily contributing small amounts each so that we can consolidate our monies toward electing candidates who may help us, or at least don’t look to undermine our hard won rights. The Payroll Deception ballot measure is a dangerous attack on working people. It is designed to make us spend a lot of our hard-earned money to defeat it, so that, at the same time, right-wing forces can try to elect a President who will continue the war on workers.

I’m sure it seems as if we are constantly harping on you to register to vote, to make sure you participate in the mail ballot program so it is easier to cast your ballot, and to give a couple of bucks a week to DRIVE. I’m also sure that without you participating to beat back these attacks, we will lose many of the things we now take for granted. If we allow the right wing to take over, your pensions, your health and welfare, your overtime protections, and many other terms of conditions of employment could be lost. Throughout our history we’ve had to fight for everything we have and then fight to keep it. This is nothing new, just another front to defend. Please make sure that you arm yourself and your union for this fight. Register to vote, make sure you are doing the mail balloting, and please sign up for DRIVE.

First Teamster contract for UC workers

On the good news side of the ledger, I am pleased to inform you that our newest Local in Joint Council 7, Local 2010, which represents almost 14,000 University of California workers at all the campuses, recently settled their contract.

These new Teamsters had not received a raise for over four years, and were under attack by the University. Once the members voted to affiliate with the Teamsters, things began to move forward. It took a while for the Teamsters to get to know how their system worked and for the officers of their Local to learn how the Teamsters operate. But then, they asked for our assistance in their negotiations.

Joint Council 42 President and International VP Randy Cammack, Western Region Public Sector Director Ray Whitmer and I went into the negotiations and after about a month came out with an excellent agreement that in most cases surpasses all other collective bargaining agreements in the UC system.

The contract was accepted by 95% of the new Teamsters, with a higher vote count than any previous agreement. While the members had voted to affiliate with the Teamsters and our Joint Council more than a year ago, I am now very happy to say that they finally have a Teamster contract.

Economy, bad management take their toll

We continue to see companies that have been household names to all of us suffer and perhaps die as the economy and their ability to adapt to changing markets is challenged. As we go to press, IBC-Hostess has filed for bankruptcy and their future is certainly at risk.

Thousands of Teamster members work for this company across the nation, including a large number within our Joint Council. In announcing their bankruptcy, the company, of course, blamed the union and the obligations they have to pay pensions for their workers. Interestingly, their competitors, who have the same obligations, have been able to manage their businesses, while IBC-Hostess cannot.

Our members at IBC-Hostess have sacrificed much over the last few years by giving this company a number of concessions. They are being asked for more now, including giving up their existing pension plan.

I, along with all of the Northern California Bakery Negotiating Committee Locals are adamantly opposed to making any further concessions to this company. Unfortunately, this may cause a lot of our members to lose their jobs. Unfortunately, we have an obligation to the rest of our members who work within the Bakery industry to preserve working standards and conditions. Hopefully, we will find a solution before it is too late for another iconic company that we all grew up with.