October 14 Publication Date
Southern California Newspaper Articles from Local 572

Rick Middleton:

Thank you to all Local 572 members for expressing your confidence in the Officers of your Local during our recently concluded nomination meeting. It has been both an honor and privilege to serve this membership. Your Executive Board will be officially installed on January 1, 2011 for a new three-year term. All Officers will remain the same with the exception of Caleb Brown who will fill the position of Trustee vacated by Helena Nelson. As always, we are committed to working hard in the ongoing fight to improve and secure the working lives of all Local 572 Teamsters. To that end, I am pleased to report that our Ralphs members overwhelmingly ratified a new five-year contract on October 3, 2010. Despite the grocery companies’ efforts to dismantle the industry health care plans we were able to secure wage increases and protect health care. Thanks to all Shop stewards who were helping to prepare our members for a fight should we not have prevailed at the bargaining table.

Dennis Watson:

UPS: I’m happy to report that several discharge grievances have been favorably resolved. SPORH discipline continues to be issued and I remind all Drivers to keep a written daily account of unusual occurrences on your route and managements’ response or direction when you bring these things to their attention. Additionally, you should maintain a calendar that specifies “R” days that you are given in order to ensure that you are not charged for an occurrence of absence. If you need help formatting any of this material, please call me at (310) 515-0601, ext. 250.

Adriana Salazar and Connie Oser:

LAUSD: As this article is published, LAUSD will begin sending out Reduction In Force (RIF) notices to their employees. We have been able to reduce our layoffs in the following areas – the 457 Plant Managers has been reduced to 112 and continues to decrease as more plant managers identify themselves as participating in the Early Retirement Incentive. The deadline to apply for the additional two (2) years of service credit is December 6, 2010 and all participants must retire by December 31. 2010. Elementary schools with 16 or more labor hours can opt out of the team cleaning and on a limited basis, school sites with 12 or more can do so as well.

We are meeting with Facilities regarding the contract professionals in classifications where we have members scheduled for RIF.

Cafeteria Managers should note that we have been in discussions on new classifications which, if approved, would result in additional classifications that recognize the amount of students being served.

All members should have begun taking their twelve (12) furlough days. Those members who were reduced to B Basis should also remember that they must complete an additional six (6) days of work during Z time before June 30, 2011 in order to qualify for PERS credit. We have filed a grievance against the District regarding their mandate that all furlough days be completed by March 30, 2011.

Steve Badger:

Ralphs Transportation: The Union settled one of the subcontracting grievances with the Company. The other subcontracting grievance is going to arbitration. The Company violated seniority when they used a junior driver for an extra long-haul run and they did not offer it to the senior driver. This resulted in full back pay to the senior driver who was not offered the work. As a reminder to all drivers, make sure you keep up on your medical card don’t let it expire. It is your responsibility whether you get a reminder from the DMV or not.

Hostess Brands: As a reminder to all drivers, make sure you take your lunch and make sure you have completed it before the fifth hour and if you are going to work past the twelfth hour, you key in your second meal period on your hand held before the twelfth hour and complete it before the twelfth hour.