Comment from a Friend of CFTW

I am a former non Union GI/Estes driver who knows a lot of Former Viking/Fed Ex drivers who run on the line board And i heard the company wants to pay them along with the city drivers the same rate of pay. I heard 35 per hour? That is long over do and i think that is great.But my personal feelings are that line drivers in all fairness should make 50 per hour.And again this is A company decision to pay this rate I don't feel that line drivers should be upset.I think line drivers should argue with Management that your Job deserves more per hour for the reasons that you are in Climate and road conditions changes all the time example Snow-Rain-Winds driving at Night and early mornings away from your families on holidays and fatigue drivers from other Trucking companies and just regular people trying to reach there families afar.I have worked City for 14 years and line for 15 and most important work Union now "Teamsters" I have been injured from work and do not stress about my job not being there or not having my Benefits paid for Health and welfare that means every thing is paid for including my pension.So I think you drivers should stick together and think about why Fred Smith is doing this? Demand more and Demand he pay a Pension and your health and welfare. He makes a TON of money it is about time he take care of his drivers the heart and soul of Fed Ex Good luck and think about it. Ramon ABF driver. 

Merry Christmas

We would like to wish you all a Merry  Christmas and Happy Holidays!

L A Trade Tech Labor Center Schedule of Classes WINTER 2016 Start January 4 and End February 5, 20165 (5 Weeks)

Change fedex to win highly recommend anyone who is interested in organizing FedEx Freight take classes like these that are offered at L A trade tech in your area.

Knowledge is Power !

LS 5-GRIEVANCE AND ARBITRATION  Sec. 3252 How to identify, investigate, write and present grievances and handle arbitrations.  Emphasis on participants’ own contracts, grievance procedures and experiences.  Instructors: Gillian Golberg and Steven Holguin, Holguin, Garfield, Martinez and Quinonez  Class Location: ILWU Local 56, 316 W. 7th St., San Pedro, 90731

THURSDAYS

LS 20-WORKERS’ RIGHTS Sec. 3254 Basic legal rights for workers, including: wage and hour laws, overtime, leaves, workplace privacy including e-mail and computers, accommodating disabilities, including pregnancy, and combating employment discrimination.  Instructor: Jim Varga, IATSE International West Coast Counsel  Class Location: L.A. County Federation of Labor, 2130 W. James Wood Bld., Los Angeles 90006

1-UNIT WEEKEND CLASSES AT TRADE-TECH

8:30 AM – 5:00 PM Aspen Hall Room 221

Must Attend Both Days to Earn College Credit

LS 132-STRATEGIC BRAGAINING Sec.0440 How to conduct a strong contract campaign including effective research, member involvement, building public support, and corporate campaigns.  February 20 and 21  Instructor: Marcus Hatcher, SEIU-UHW 

LS 114-WORKERS’ LEGAL RIGHTS  Sec. 0441 Know your rights at work.  Basic legal rights that protect workers covering such areas as meal breaks, overtime, anti-discrimination, family leave and disability benefits. February 27 and March 12 Instructor: Joe Paller, Gilbert and Sackman   

LS 107-POLITICAL ACTION SKILLS  Sec.0442 Survey of grassroots political organizing strategies, including: phone banks, precinct walks, get out the vote (GOTV), vote-by-mail, and communications.  March 5 and 19  Instructor: Rusty Hicks, L.A. County Federation of Labor 

LS 128-SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND DISCRIMINATION  Sec. 0443 Learn the laws and how to combat sexual harassment and job discrimination, including the criteria for claims, agencies, policies and procedures for prevention.  April 9 and 16  Instructors:  June McMahon, Retired, UCLA Labor Center and Josh Young, Gilbert and Sackman   

LS 115-WORKPLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY* Sec.0444 How to identify and resolve workplace health and safety issues, and proactive strategies to improve workplace safety.  April  23 and 30 (*May 7 optional third day to earn Health and Safety certificate)   Instructor: Deogracia Cornelio, UCLA-LOSH

For the Record: Debunking Myths About the Gardena Strike

On November 9, 2015, FedEx employees from the Gardena, CA terminal went on strike to protest the company's unfair labor practices. FedEx management has wasted no time trying to spread misinformation about the events of that day.

Here are a few of the myths that management would like you to believe about the Gardena strikes and the truth about what really happened.

MYTH: The police refused to enforce trespassing laws because, as union members, they are biased.

REALITY:  According to Penal Code 552.1 PC union activities are an exempted from trespassing laws. "This article [prohibiting trespassing on or near posted industrial property] does not prohibit: (a) Any lawful activity for the purpose of engaging in any organizational effort on behalf of any labor union, agent, or member thereof, or of any employee group, or any member thereof, employed or formerly employed in any place of business or manufacturing establishment described in this article, or for the purpose of carrying on the lawful activities of labor unions, or members thereof." (From <http://www.shouselaw.com/trespass.html)

This means that the police were just following the law. Unfortunately, FedEx would rather question the integrity and authority of officers than accept that it is perfectly legal for their employees to strike. 

MYTH: The Teamsters forced the terminal to shut down.

REALITY: The representative for FedEx in an Ex Parte hearing explicitly stated that FedEx made a "judgement call" to "not attempt…to bring a truck in or take a truck out". Our sources have confirmed that the union leadership that was present that day was more than willing to negotiate that the terminal remain open and operational.

If any financial damage was done by this strike, it was caused by managements' unwillingness to even address the picketers.

MYTH: The picketers were disruptive and harassed a fellow employee.

REALITY: In the Ex Parte hearing requested by FedEx, Sergeant Berardi of the L.A. County Sheriff's Department, testified that the picketing was so peaceful that he did not feel the need to post a peace officer at the event.

The one accusation of harassment is questionable at best, with the accuser having multiple discrepancies between their signed declaration and testimony. There were however, multiple witnesses who testified that an anti-union employee brandished a tire iron in an aggressive manner during the event.

In a recent newsletter about the strike, FedEx states that "the way the Teamsters and pro-union employees behaved in Gardena speaks for itself" and we agree. The POLICE obviously thought they were well behaved, the only credible threats of violence came from ANTI-UNION  employees and the only reason there was any disruption of work and pay was because THE MANAGERS decided to shut down the terminal for the day.

It appears that FedEx is up to their same old tricks of deceit and misinformation again. It is disappointing that their anti-union campaign would even go so low as to attempt to smear a police officer's integrity to uphold the law but it just goes to show that they will stop at nothing to try to stop their employees from joining the Teamsters.

Stay Strong and Fight On!

CCSD Employees Vote to join Teamsters

(LAS VEGAS) ––Clark County School District (CCSD) support workers have voted overwhelmingly to join the Teamsters Union, the Employee-Management Relations Board (EMRB) announced today. There are more than 11,000 support workers in the bargaining unit.

The vote for Teamsters Local 14 was a decisive win over the current bargaining representative at CCSD, with nearly 82 percent of workers voting to join the Teamsters over the Education Support Employees Association (ESEA). The unit is made up of a wide range of support workers, including clerical, custodial, maintenance, school bus and cafeteria workers who maintain and operate America’s fifth-largest school district.

“This is a historic day,” said Jim Hoffa, Teamsters General President. “These determined school workers stood strong to win this free and fair election. Today, their hard work has finally paid off. On behalf of the 1.4 million Teamster members, I want to congratulate them on joining the growing movement of public service workers nationwide seeking Teamster power.”

Support staff already voted overwhelmingly in favor of Local 14 representation, in a vote tabulated Feb. 3 of this year and in 2006. Despite democratically voting to join the Teamsters, both elections required a supermajority rule (50-percent-plus-1 of all eligible voters) for Local 14 to obtain certification. Following the election in February, however, hundreds of support staff took their case to the EMRB to win a fair election.

“This is what democracy looks like,” said Carlos Pinto, a head custodian at CCSD who spoke on behalf of the unit following the vote count. “We, the workers, brought change. It’s hard to express how meaningful this victory is for us. We couldn’t be prouder.”

Pinto was joined by co-worker Kim Bucy, an administrative secretary at CCSD who helped lead the organizing effort.

“This fight has always been about fairness and respect. After voting overwhelmingly to join the Teamsters in two elections, it was clear the supermajority rule was unfair to workers,” Bucy said. "By uniting to win a simple-majority election, we won fairness. Now we will unite at the bargaining table to win respect.” 

Speaking on behalf of Local 14, Secretary-Treasurer Larry Griffith thanked the workers for their dedication over the years, crediting the worker-led organizing committee for bringing change to CCSD.

“Workers at CCSD have done what many have called the impossible. It’s truly incredible what they’ve accomplished today,” Griffith said. “We will continue to stand in solidarity and unity with everyone at CCSD as we address a decades-worth of concerns.”

As the newest members of the Teamsters Public Services Division, CCSD support staff will join public employees across the country already enjoying the benefits of Teamster representation.

"This is an important vote, as the dreams of many will finally be realized," said Michael Filler, Director of the Teamsters Public Services Division. “As the newest Teamsters in the Public Services Division, thousands of Clark County school support staff and their families can focus on a more promising future."