General President Hoffa has announced that Philadelphia Local 107 President William Hamilton has been appointed to the General Executive Board as an International Vice President for the Eastern Region replacing the ousted Frank Gillen.  PR Newswire has this story.

      UPS has cut its first-quarter earnings forecast because of higher fuel costs, a weakening U.S. economy and reduced domestic package volume.  The company lowered its first-quarter earnings expectations to 86 or 87 cents per share, compared with a previously anticipated range of 94 to 98 cents a share.  Analysts polled by Thomson Financial, on average, were expecting earnings of 93 cents per share.  An article from the Associated Press explains.

    9,300 active and furloughed mechanics who comprise the United Airlines bargaining unit have overwhelmingly chosen the Teamsters Union as their collective bargaining representative by a vote of 4,113 - 2,631, the National Mediation Board announced.  PR Newswire has more on this victory.

     In a related development, UPS has elected to settle its case with OSHA after being informed of the agency's preliminary finding that Daniel Peterson's complaints to them had merit.  The company will pay Peterson $254,000 and has agreed to post whistle-blower "fact sheets" in all of its facilities in the state as well as not interfering with, coercing or restraining employees from exercising their rights contained in the STA and OSH acts.  The Watertown Daily Times updates.

     A Watertown, NY area man has reached a tentative settlement with UPS over a lawsuit he brought in February 2007 claiming he was fired by the company for complaining about the condition of its delivery fleet.   The Watertown Daily Times has more on the resolution of this suit.

    The state Attorney General's Office is looking into the Thruway crash that killed a UPS  driver on 7/19/07 as part of an investigation into UPS maintenance practices across Upstate New York.  The Syracuse Post Standard outlines the beginning of this story.

     The MakeUPSDeliver web site reports that the new Article 37 language has been in effect since January 1, but in most areas, UPS still has not posted the “9.5 Opt-In / Opt-Out” lists required by the new contract.  The issue is reportedly being discussed by Teamster and company officials at the highest levels. In some areas, management is refusing to grant any 9.5 grievances until the Opt-in/Opt-out issue is settled nationally.

    Robert Walston, a former president of Chicago Local 743 who had abruptly resigned his position, has now been indicted with other officials for conspiring to steal ballots and rig the 2004 local union election.  TDU continues its coverage.

     Richard Berg and his New Leadership Slate have narrowly won election to lead the 12,000 member Teamsters Local 743 in Chicago.  The election was supervised by the U.S. Department of Labor.  The Chicago Tribune and TDU update this saga.

    On 09/4/07, Richard Lopez took over as president of  Teamsters Local 743 and promised to "stand up for working men and women the way the Teamsters has always looked out for me,'' but on 09/07/07, federal prosecutors announced that Lopez and three others had been indicted for allegedly helping steal a 2004 election that kept him and others in power.  The Chicago Sun Times and TDU cover this announcement.

     In a victory for reform efforts, the  Department of Labor will conduct a new election for Local 743 in Chicago after officers there admitted to a Judge that they had mailed ballots in their own election to employers and destroyed the evidence of what had been done.  TDU and Fight Back News have more.

    Scott & Scott, the law firm litigating the employment discrimination class action  against UPS, has placed updates of recent developments in this lawsuit on a  web site titled  UPSemployeeclass.com. 
      In a related story, Maine Today reports on the case of a UPS driver with epilepsy who will remain on the road with the weight of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit behind him.

     A federal judge has approved the certification of a nationwide class action suit of present and former UPS employees, dating back to May 2000, who were precluded from returning to work due to medical reasons because of alleged across-the-board policies and practices of UPS that violate the Americans with Disabilities Act.  Pittsburgh Business Times carries the story.

   UPS is saying that a bookkeeping error caused it to inflate its reported earnings for the fiscal 2007 fourth-quarter and full-year by $65 million.  The error means the company missed Wall Street expectations instead of meeting them, as reported previously. RTT News has the report.  This information is now reflected in the company's 10K filing to the S.E.C. which is linked on the UPS page.

     UPS posted a $2.58 billion fourth-quarter loss on costs to exit the Central States pension plan. The net loss was $2.46 a share as compared to profit a year earlier of $1.13 billion, or $1.04 a share. UPS's domestic package volume increased 1.4 percent.  Bloomberg has the report.  TDU provides an analysis of this news.
     Also Reuters is reporting that UPS is raising its stock dividend from 42 to 45 cents per share.

       TDU is reporting that members who have contacted the Parcel Division have been told that the union has made no agreement with UPS to allow the company to use Air Drivers to pick up ground packages from drop boxes.  The Parcel Division has advised members to file grievances on all violations.

     UPS  has announced  that it now accepts ground packages in its drop boxes and that Air Drivers will pick up these ground packages at their regular pay rate.   In a management memo obtained by Teamsters for a Democratic Union, UPS claims it has the green light from the International Union for this change, which directly violates the contract.

     The Teamsters now have a website devoted to the campaign against Transportation Secretary Mary Peters:  FireMaryPeters.com.

     The Teamsters have launched a nationwide grassroots campaign to get U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters removed from office because they allege that Peters “unlawfully” opened the border to unsafe trucks from Mexico.  An article from The Trucker explains.  The Detroit News carries a commentary from James Hoffa which presents his views on Peters.   ETrucker reports that a U.S. Department of Transportation spokesman dismissed the Teamsters’ campaign to oust  Mary Peters, while a federal court will consider a law that opponents say was designed to stop the project.
     These stories and more concerning the Bush administration's relationship with Labor can be found on our Bush Watch page.

     Members have passed the National Master Freight Agreement by a 2-1 margin with all but two of the supplements also being ratified.  The IBT has the story and TDU also weighs in and provides local-by-local vote totals.

   Freight2008.org has updates on the tentative freight agreement and supplements as well as vote "NO" leaflets for those who oppose these contracts to be voted on.

   A new web site, Freight2008.org, has information concerning the proposed National Master Freight Agreement including both highlights and concessions that are contained in it.

    The Teamsters announced that  the union organized 23,000 new members in 2007 and ended the year with membership above where it was in 2006.  Despite some layoffs, the Teamsters will end 2007 up roughly 13,000 members to nearly 1.45 million, according to spokesman Bret Caldwell.  This compares to 1,398,573 members as of the end of 2006, according to a report filed with the Department of Labor in April.  The Detroit News has more.

   In a front page Times Union story, the paper reports that Federal agents have demanded business records from several Albany-area labor unions, including Teamsters Local 294, that have sent tens of millions of dollars to investment firms that employed state Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno over the past decade, according to labor representatives and other sources. 

       An article from TDU details how the  Pension Protection Act, as of January 1, gives Teamsters in pension plans new, expanded rights to obtain information from their pension fund including any periodic actuary report, any quarterly, semi-annual or annual financial report, and other documents.

        The NYS Teamsters Council Health & Hospital Fund has announced that as of January 1, 2008 VSP Vision Care is the new administrator of vision care benefits.  The NYS Teamsters Benefit Funds web site details the coverage now provided and we have updated our Benefits and Form pages with this information.

      The IBT has announced that the UPS national contract has been officially ratified as Teamsters in New York and Pennsylvania have voted to approve their supplements after they were initially defeated and renegotiated.   MakeUPSDeliver.org continues its coverage.

TENTATIVE NATIONAL MASTER AGREEMENT

TENTATIVE UPSTATE/WEST NY SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT

     This story and the rest of the news and information concerning the Teamsters-UPS negotiations can be found on the new UPS Contract 2008 page.

      Anthony Rumore, the former president of a New York area Teamsters Local 812, has been arrested on charges that he forced his union members to do work for him personally, including building a new roof on his country home, squiring his daughter to her yoga class and setting up a Christmas tree at his Manhattan apartment. The NY Times has details of the indictment.

       A Bush administration rule allowing truckers 11 hours a day behind the wheel imperils both truckers and the driving public, Public Citizen President Joan Claybrook told a Senate subcommittee, shortly before the consumer group asked a federal court of appeals to enforce its earlier decision striking down the rule.  Public Citizen has more

      The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia has denied the American Trucking Association’s (ATA) request for an eight month stay of the hours of service (HOS) mandate that cuts back maximum daily and weekly drivable hours, instead opting to issue only a 90-day stay for implementation of mandated hours of service revisions.  Public Citizen details this decision.

     The American Trucking Association has asked a federal court to delay a mandate of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit that would reduce by one hour the time truckers can drive continuously to a maximum of 10 hours.  This comes from the Associated Press.

     More than 1,000 union workers in Ithaca and Cortland New York became part of  Teamsters Local 317 following a representational vote of BorgWarner employees choosing between the Teamsters and the International Association of Machinists.   The Ithaca Journal has the report.   BorgWarner deals in power train components and auto systems solutions. 

        Acacia Research Corp. has announced that its Telematics Corp. unit settled a lawsuit with United Parcel Service Inc. related to tracking vehicles on a map.  An article from Business Week carries this news.

   OSHA has issued its final regulations requiring employers to pay for their employees’ personal protective equipment (PPE) at no cost to full- and part-time workers.  The IBT has a press release as well as a printable fact sheet.

      The Labor Department has agreed to issue rules outlining an employer's responsibility for the cost of workers' safety equipment — two months after a lawsuit by the AFL-CIO and the United Food and Commercial Workers seeking such regulations.  An article from the Associated Press explains.  The AFL-CIO web site details the lawsuit against the DOL.

     John Kearney, former Local 294 Secretary-Treasurer and uncle of current BA Frank Kearney, has been named to the transition team of newly elected Colonie town supervisor Paula Mahan as the leader of the town's Operations Committee.  The Albany Times Union carries the announcement. 

    UPS forced one of its sales managers into early retirement over his irritable bowel syndrome, the employee has charged in a $3 million lawsuit that will be heard in Brooklyn federal court.  The NY Post has the exclusive.

     The Bush National Labor Relations Board is guilty of violating federal labor law for refusing to bargain with the NLRB union according to a Federal Labor Relations Authority judge.  Workers Independent News published this story.

    The American Rights at Work web site details how this past September, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued an unprecedented number of decisions undermining workers’ fundamental rights including two that further undermine the law’s provisions for compensating victims of illegal employer conduct. 

     The Michigan Attorney General's Office and the  Michigan Department of Agriculture are looking into allegations that UPS uses faulty package measurement devices to overcharge thousands of customers and package shipping stores.  The Detroit Free Press has details. 

      UPS has reported  a 3.7 percent increase in third-quarter profit as the company earned $1.08 billion, or $1.02 a share, for the three months ending Sept. 30, up from $1.04 billion, or 96 cents a share, for the same period a year earlier. Revenue in the quarter rose 4.7 percent to $12.21 billion and total domestic volume increased nearly 1%.   Trading Markets has the facts and figures.

       A California appeals court has reversed a decision blocking Mail Boxes Etc. franchisees from proceeding with a class-action lawsuit against UPS.  The  Associated Press has this update.

     UPS is the target of a proposed class-action lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in San Francisco by a UPS Store owner that accuses the company of wrongly profiting off of UPS Store and Mail Boxes Etc. franchisees by billing them for differences in shipping rates.  Business First has more.

     An article from the Dallas Morning News details the problems UPS store "mom and pop" franchise owners all over the country are having in that the stores can't compete with UPS's web site, causing many of them to go out of business and giving rise to a lawsuit from 220 current and former franchisees.

      UPS has announced  that Chief Executive Mike Eskew will retire at the end of the year after six years at the helm and more than three decades with the company.  Chief Financial Officer Scott Davis will replace Eskew.  Coverage comes from Bloomberg.

    A federal judge has granted class action status for lawsuits filed in 36 states by current and former FedEx Corp ground and home delivery drivers, according to an attorney for the drivers .  Reuters has the story.

    An Indiana federal court is weighing whether suits filed by 150 independent Fed-Ex contract drivers, who say they are treated as full-time employees and should be paid as such, should be combined into a class action.  The company is claiming that the Teamsters are the driving force behind these suits.  Bloomberg provides details.

      The results are in for the "alternative ERI" and The Galley web site has them along with the respondents' comments.  
     UPS has reported some of the results of the company's ERI.  The Empire State District had a score of 82% favorable and 10% unfavorable with the East Central Region as a whole scoring a 76% favorable versus 13% unfavorable.

      For UPS members who feel that the company's ERI (Employee Relations Index) Survey doesn't quite measure up in asking the types of questions that they would like to see asked, The Galley, a rank and file web site created by UPS employees in Germany, has developed an "alternative ERI".  The results will be published shortly after September 27.

      TDU has posted details of the UPS Freight contract just ratified in Indianapolis:

• The agreement is a white paper contract and not under the National Master Freight Agreement.

• Wages go up 65¢ immediately, and then 70-75-80-85-90¢ over the next five years 

• Wage increases are split in half each year, to be paid in January and July.  

• It provides for both a company pension and health benefits. 

• Family health coverage will cost members $150 per month. 

• No change in sick days, personal days or vacations.

• No matching money for a 401(k) as was done previously. 

• It provides for a union grievance procedure (not the freight panels, a company-based procedure) and seniority rights. 

     As reported by the IBT, workers at UPS Freight  in Indianapolis overwhelmingly ratified their first contract ever, by a 107-1 vote.

     At the same time as the UPS tentative agreement was reached, the Teamsters announced that they have reached a tentative deal with UPS Freight in Indianapolis.

       Thanks to TDU, International Union Vice President, and former Local 237 president, Carroll Haynes is being forced to repay more than $100,000 in improper payments received from the company that manages the Local 237 health plan.

       The International Union and New York Local 237 claim to be investigating HMO "consultant" payments received by International VP Carroll Haynes. This action came in response to a report in the June Convoy Dispatch, following research by TDU.

      A Warren County man involved in a collision with a UPS package car that forced doctors to amputate his right arm has won a lawsuit for $10 million against the company after a two-and-a-half week trial.  CBS 6 Albany has more.

     As is the custom at Co294 on Labor Day, we have linked to a cross section of news stories and opinion pieces that reflect on what the holiday really means and the state of today's labor movement.  This year's compilation includes articles from the Kansas City Star,  Huffington Post,  Boston Globe,  Eagle Times,  Tennessean,  Lansing State Journal and the Salt Lake Tribune.  To add a more multi-media flavor, below is a well done music video commemorating the men and women of labor.

     TDU's analysis reveals that more than $20  million in Teamster dues was paid last year to the highest paid Teamster officials, each of whom bags $150,000 or more a year.  The report can be found here and the $150,000 club as well as a list of salaries of other officials is here.

    UPS spent nearly $1.2 million in the first half of 2007 to lobby the federal government, according to a disclosure form.  Newstex has more information.

     Election Appeals Master Kenneth Conboy has issued a decision that questions the legality of James Hoffa’s  firing of former Eastern Region Freight Coordinator Dan Virtue and Carlos Ramos last January after the former ran on an independent slate, along with Joint Council 73 president Don DiLeo, for Eastern vice president. Ramos supported Virtue.  TDU has this exclusive.

     Teamsters president James Hoffa also spoke at the 2007  Yearly Kos convention, a video of which has been posted on YouTube.

         The Teamsters Union and Change To Win are two of the sponsors of the YearlyKos convention of progressive bloggers which is being held this year in Chicago beginning August 2.  On the list of speakers, moderators and panelists is Brett Caldwell, Director of Communications and chief spokesman for the IBT.

    The Philadelphia Inquirer is reporting that IBT vice president Frank Gillen has been ousted after allegations that he lied to a federal investigatory board and cannot hold any union office for five years and cannot belong to the union as a truck driver for three years.

      Recently elected Teamsters international vice president for the eastern region Frank Gillen has been charged by the IRB  with lying to the review board about his contacts with the barred former president of Teamsters Local 107 Thomas Ryan.  The Philadelphia Inquirer has the story.
     In related news, former senior IBT officer Bill Hogan faces a $5,000 fine and six months in jail after prosecutors say he violated his lifetime ban by having more than 150 contacts with the union until 2005.  Details come from the New York Sun.

   According to a three-day election concluded  by the National Labor Relations Board, 203 UPS Freight employees in Kansas City have voted against joining the Association of Parcel Workers of America (APWA), while 66 voted in favor of the group out of 339 hourly employees eligible to vote.  The Kansas City Star has more.

      After persuasion from New Jersey's governor and attorney general, UPS announced that it would extend health insurance benefits to the civil union partners of gay New Jersey employees covered by a union contract.  This is from the Associated Press.

     A federal appeals court has struck down a Bush administration rule that loosened restrictions on the work hours of truck drivers after concluding that officials had failed to adequately justify the changes.  A New York Times report explains.  More details come from Public Citizen who filed the appeal and the IBT.  This story has been cross posted on the Bush Watch page.

       The Central Pennsylvania Teamsters Pension Reform Committee has revamped their web site, saveourpension.org, in which they have posted the $1.75 million settlement agreement of their lawsuit against the Central Pennsylvania Teamsters Pension Fund and various trustees.  Recall that the NYS Teamsters Pension Fund had made an offer to merge with this troubled fund which ultimately was not undertaken.

      The IBT has taken over New Jersey Local  331 for the third time in two decades after uncovering alleged financial malfeasance and possible fraud.  Among those removed from office was President Joseph Yeoman.  The Press of Atlantic City carries this news.

     In related news, a federal judge upheld a jury verdict that Teamsters Local 722 brought internal union charges and prosecuted a member active in TDU in retaliation for his protected speech. The Pontiac Daily Leader has the exclusive.

      The N.A.B.E.R. web site has compiled a list of "least best" UPS facilities in terms of injuries for 2006 using OSHA's database of the 26 states it monitors federally.  We have taken the UPS information, sorted it by state and converted it to pdf for ease of viewing.  The good news is Albany is not on the list.  The bad news is that Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo and Plattsburgh are.

      The Nation has disclosed that Hillary Clinton's chief strategist and pollster, Mark Penn, leads a giant PR and union-busting firm, Burson-Marsteller.  Now James Hoffa and Bruce Raynor of UNITE-HERE  have gone public with their concerns, writing a letter to Hillary expressing their displeasure with Penn's company and his role in her campaign.

         Presidential candidates Sen. Hillary Clinton  and Sen. Barack Obama  met  with the IBT General Executive Board during its quarterly meetings in Washington.   The candidates were questioned on a number of issues important to Teamsters Union members. PRNewswire files a report.

       Teamsters leaders say the owner of the Yuengling brewery told his workers that he would sell the business or shut it down unless they shed their decades-long affiliation with the Union, which they did.  The decertification has prompted the Union to call for a boycott of  the company's products.  The Associated Press has the details.

      An article from the Louisville Courier-Journal notes that Allied Systems has emerged from bankruptcy.

      The U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Atlanta has approved the bankruptcy reorganization plan of Allied Holdings which puts the auto hauler under control of billionaire Ron Burkle's Yucaipa Cos.  Dow Jones has the announcement.

      Another group of Allied Holdings shareholders has joined the chorus of voices asking the bankruptcy court to throw out the auto hauler's Chapter 11 plan.  The full story is from the Houston Chronicle.

     Teamster carhaulers who work at Allied Holdings have approved the Yucaipa plan by a vote of 52 % to 48%. Once the  Bankruptcy Court approves the plan, it could take effect as early as June 1.  PR Newswire has this announcement with TDU offering further commentary.

     Allied Holdings has scored two victories, winning bankruptcy court approval of its Chapter 11 plan-disclosure statement and its request to enter into a $15 million financing arrangement.  The Associated Press  continues its coverage.

     The Justice Department and Allied Holdings Inc.'s shareholders are urging the bankruptcy court not to approve the auto hauler's Chapter 11 plan disclosure statement. An article from the Associated Press explains.

    Another report from TDU carries the news that Sopris Capital, an investment firm, has made a bid to the bankruptcy court to take over Allied, with a proposal filed on March 15, 2007.

     TDU is reporting that the Allied Board of Directors has approved the Yucaipa deal.  The Oakland Press also weighs in.

    As a result of Allied's request for more time, the bankruptcy court has extended what is referred to as the "period of exclusivity" to give current management time to review the Yucaipa plan.  The IBT updates.

     The IBT has posted a detailed description of the  Allied reorganization plan with Yucaipa.

     Teamster leadership has reportedly made a tentative deal with the Yucaipa Company, the investment company that holds most of Allied's debt, to give 15 percent wage concessions for 3,700 Teamster carhaulers.  Part of the deal is that CEO Hugh Sawyer will be fired.  TDU has the exclusive.

     According to the IBT, Allied Holdings CEO Hugh Sawyer has threatened to "shut down the company" if his employees do not accept his $325 million in cuts.

     Allied Holdings has filed a motion asking that a federal bankruptcy judge rip up the contract between the Teamsters and Allied and allow Allied to implement the millions in wage, benefits and work rule concessions that they have been demanding for the past several months.  PR Newswire carries the details of this move by the company.

          AUD has audio from its 10/06 conference "Confronting Corruption in  Labor Unions --Rank-and-file insurgency? Government intervention? Internal reform? Assessing a half century of effort."  One of the speakers was Barbara Harvey, a labor lawyer in Detroit representing Teamsters for a Democratic Union, who reflected on the role of the Consent Decree in the fight against corruption in the Teamsters.

 
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         A former UPS account manager who alleged the company fired him in retaliation for an earlier lawsuit he filed has been awarded a $2.1 million verdict by a federal jury in Detroit. UPS plans on appealing the ruling.  This comes from the Detroit News. 

        UPS, which increased its annual profit by almost 9 percent in 2006, paid its top executive Mike Eskew nearly $6.2 million in total compensation last year.  The Memphis Business Journal examines the compensation of top UPS executives.

      In an effort to tap into the power of the internet as an organizing and information tool, the Teamsters Union has developed a presence on such popular internet sites as MySpace and YouTube, as well as having a contributing blogger at the influential Daily Kos site. 

     Crowley Foods is shuttering most operations at its milk plant on Commerce Avenue, putting roughly 80 people out of work, including members of Local 669 in Albany, at a facility last year ranked as the best of its kind in the state.  The Albany Times Union has this announcement.

      A federal judge in Chicago has refused UPS's motion to dismiss a class action suit alleging that the  company intentionally misclassified thousands of employees as managers as a strategy for denying them overtime and minimum wage protections. The suit, Potts v. United Parcel Service Inc., N.D. Ill., No. 06 C 4766, 2/15/07, seeks tens of millions of dollars in unpaid wages under the Fair Labor Standards Act and 24 state minimum wage statutes.  This comes from the Bureau of National Affairs via TDU.

       TDU has filed a report concerning employers' pushing for changes to water down the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) by making use of a comment period by the Department of Labor for any proposed changes to the law.  Those who have been helped by the law or who know someone who has can tell their stories to the DOL.   The deadline for comments is Feb. 16 at 5 PM.

      UPS has announced that the quarterly dividend, payable March 6, 2007, to shareholders of record on February 20, 2007, has been increased 11% to $0.42 per share from $0.38 per share on all outstanding Class A and Class B shares. This comes from Real Time Traders.

     Despite a very solid 4th quarter and year overall, UPS provided a full-year outlook for 2007 below analysts' forecasts, citing a slowing U.S. economy, causing its shares to fall.  Reuters provides analysis.

    UPS set a new record for package volume in 2006, delivering almost 4 billion packages for an average of 15.6 million per day.  The company  posted net income of $4.2 billion on $47.5 billion in revenue, compared with  $3.9 billion on $42.6 billion in revenue in 2005, an 8.6% increase.   Earnings were $3.86 a share, up from $3.47 a share in 2005.  View the press release and full financials from the UPS web site.  

    Pursuing his determination to create "free trade" pacts without worker rights, President George W. Bush has asked the Democratic-run Congress to renew his "fast track" Trade Promotion Authority.  Workday Minnesota carries this story which is also cross posted on our Bush Watch page.

      A national network of UPS teamsters has launched a web site with news, information and the ability to post comments concerning contract negotiations for the 2008 national master agreement.  The site is MakeUPSDeliver.org.

    Union membership dropped to 12 percent of U.S. workers last year, extending a steady decline from the 1950s when more than a third belonged to unions.  The Associated Press explains and the Bureau of Labor Statistics has a complete report.

     In response to what apparently have been rumors of a possible strike against UPS, the IBT web site has posted a statement from Ken Hall debunking such talk.

     According to the IBT, the Teamsters National UPS Negotiating Committee resumed contract talks with the company on January 11 and 12, and the committee has set an aggressive schedule with the aim of reaching a strong agreement soon.

     UPS and the Teamsters Union, representing almost 250,000 workers, have kicked off negotiations for a new contract that will replace the largest labor pact in the U.S. private sector.   Reuters has the story as well as the IBT.

     In a December funding notice, mandated by the Department of Labor and sent to all plan participants, local unions and employers, the trustees of the NYS Teamsters Conference Pension and Retirement Fund have revealed that the Fund was  funded at a 55% level as of December 31, 2005. This percentage reflects the amount of the Fund's assets vs. its accrued pension liabilities at that time.  A 100% or better level would mean a plan is "fully funded".
     For its part, the Trustees state that the Fund "is not 'financially troubled' or nearing 'reorganization status'", and that employers are still making contributions to and benefit obligations are being met by the Fund.
    The notice states that questions may be directed to the Fund's Executive Administrator, David Menter, by mail or phone.

     Nearly 300 officers from the Shelby County Deputy Sheriffs Association voted unanimously to affiliate with Teamsters Local 667 in Memphis, Tennessee.  More from PR Newswire.

    While maintaining their separate identities, YRC Worldwide of Overland Park will create a new organization to oversee management of its two biggest operating units, Yellow Transportation and Roadway Express. The Akron Beacon Journal carries the announcement.
     An additional corporate move has the company's USF Bestway and USF Reddaway regional trucking units combining  under the USF Reddaway name, affecting 15 terminals, including seven that will be closed.  This, also, is from the Akron Beacon Journal.

      Election Supervisor Richard W. Mark has announced  the completion of the certification process for the 2006 Election of International Union Officers, confirming the re-election of James P. Hoffa and his slate. This is carried by PR Newswire.

    The Teamsters have announced that the union's legislative agenda for the 110th Congress, targeting key issues for working families, including the Employee Free Choice Act, a minimum wage hike, fair trade and raising economic and work standards on a variety of fronts.  PR Newswire provides details.

      Five Village of Port Henry Department of Public Works employees and two Water and Sewer Department workers have all signed union cards asking the International    Brotherhood of Teamsters and Local 294 to represent them.   The Plattsburgh Press-Republican has more on this successful union drive.

     A new Florida State University study shows that nearly two of five bosses don't keep their word and more than a fourth bad mouth those they supervise to co-workers.  The Associated Press has the findings.

     As previously announced on the message board, the Co294 forum has been shut down and deleted as of 12/31/06.  Any communication directed towards us should be made via the email links provided on the drop-down menu labeled "Communication".  Click here for more on this move.

     TDU reports that less than two months after the IBT announced that it would “address pension and healthcare first” in UPS bargaining, the company imposed a 30 percent pension cut on thousands of UPS Teamsters in New York City. 

      TDU has posted on their web site PDF versions of the   initial non-monetary contract proposals for the UPS National Master Agreement submitted by the Teamsters to UPS management as well as management's initial proposals given to the Union.  These should be used as a basis of comparison when a final agreement is reached.

      Attorneys representing the Teamsters and safety advocates argued in front of the U.S. Court of Appeals challenging Hours of Service regulations that place drivers and the general public at risk. More from PR Newswire.

       FedEx Home Delivery drivers at two locations in Wilmington, Massachusetts, voted 24-8 to overwhelmingly choose Teamsters Local 25 in Boston as their bargaining representative.  PR Newswire covers this major development.

     The National Labor Relations Board  in Boston is the latest government agency to rule that drivers for FedEx Ground/Home Delivery are statutory employees of the company, not independent contractors, according to a decision handed down Sept. 20.  U.S. Newswire carries this important development.

     Bus drivers of the Clinton County Public Transportation System will not go on strike despite a narrow vote to do so.  The Plattsburgh Press-Republican continues its coverage.

    Bus drivers of the Clinton County Public Transportation system, who are members of Local 294, will decide on 12/03/06 if they will go on strike.  The Plattsburgh Press-Republican has the exclusive.

    Hoping to end a state ban on collective bargaining by public employees, Raleigh’s police union has become the first in North Carolina to join the Teamsters.  This comes from the Associated Press.

     UPS has said that it is raising its average ground, air and international rates by a higher percentage next year than it did this year.  The Associated Press provides details.

      James Hoffa and his slate have won re-election as Tom Leedham has conceded.  Click to read the Hoffa campaign's announcement and Tom Leedham's statement concerning the election results.

     According to the Hoffa campaign site, the ballots for Local 294 have been counted with the Hoffa slate winning the local.  Full results are contained in the table above.  *NOTE * - The numbers for Local 294 were incorrect on our part and have now been corrected.

     The ballots for the IBT election are being counted in Alexandria VA as of 11/14/06 beginning with the Eastern region.  The entire process will take approximately four days before the results are certified by the election administrator.  Co294 will provide updated vote totals as they are released by the Leedham Campaign who are also providing regional and local by local totals.

     Google Video has a new documentary from Labor Beat about the 2006 Teamsters Convention and  Tom Leedham's campaign for IBT International President.

       We have linked to the Notice of Election found on the Election Administrator's web site which contains instructions to properly cast and return ballots.

      Leedham Slate supporters who also favor the independent Virtue-DiLeo Slate  in the Eastern region can vote for both because the Leedham campaign is not running regional vice presidential candidates in the East.  Mark your ballots as shown below to vote for both slates.

     Ballots for the International Union's election are scheduled to be mailed out to all eligible members on October 6.  The election pits the candidacies of James Hoffa and his slate versus Tom Leedham and his slate.  Independent  candidates, Dan Virtue, Don DiLeo and Dotty Malinsky are also running for vice president positions.  Co294 encourages all members to exercise their hard-won right to vote.  We are endorsing the Tom Leedham Strong Contracts, Good Pensions Slate.

     Labor leaders say that the 2006 election results amount to a rejection of the Bush agenda and take credit for helping Democrats reclaim control of the House and Senate.   Congressional Quarterly files this report.  Teamster president James Hoffa has issued a statement on the new Congress.

       The Association for Union Democracy has posted an article on their web site where it is claimed that the Teamster election rules "are not only fatally flawed from the standards of democracy. They are inconsistent and self-contradictory."  Read it here.

       A federal appeals court has upheld a lower court ruling that UPS violated anti-discrimination laws by automatically barring the deaf and hearing-impaired from driving parcel delivery trucks.  More from the Associated Press.  "UPS strongly disagrees with the court's ruling and we are evaluating our options, including an appeal," the company said in a prepared statement carried by the Atlanta Business Chronicle.

       TDU has released its annual $100,000 Club list.  This year they report that 78 Teamster officials make more than $150,000 a year, and 24 make more than $200,000 a year.  Local 294 president John Bulgaro is on the list with a salary of $123,359 and total compensation of $137,017.

       The transcript of the debate has been posted on the IBTvote.org web site.

    Video of the debate between Tom Leedham and Tom Keegel has been made available online at the Leedham 2006 web site.

     The debate between general president challenger Tom Leedham and Tom Keegel, substituting for incumbent James Hoffa, took place as scheduled with the Leedham camp claiming victory.  An article from the