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News and information on local Union matters, from Mike Parker.
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Monday Morning Update . News and information on local Union matters, from Mike Parker. . |
September 21, 2009
Monday Morning Update:
A cloudy and rainy start to the workweek. “Rainy Days and Mondays……”, as the
old song goes.
Last week ended up on a low note for the Local Union. Our members at Canteen
have served the Oldsmobile/GM Plants Food and Vending Operations, MSU, UPS, and
many others for years. For example we have one member with forty (40) years of
seniority; and others with upwards of thirty (30) years seniority in the Union
working for Canteen. Their jobs are all on the line as both new companies claim
that they will only hire who they choose to. Unfortunately eight years of
precedent set by the GW Bush Administration continue to impact us in negative
ways and we have an uphill battle on our hands.
The Company has sold its assets to two different firms. One of these is a long
time non Union firm who refuses to return the calls from the Local Union
concerning recognition. This company takes over the MSU and other accounts. If
they continue to refuse to work with us we will start a boycott action at MSU.
The other firm is named Continental Foods and have agreed to recognize us and
bargain a new contract. The company will attempt to lower benefits and wages
under those contracts as health care costs and GM demands place downward
pressure on the Members wages. Please stay tuned for a call for help.
The City negotiations continue their slog. We met with them on September 10th
and 11th. The Administration continues to insist upon its anti-working family
demand of removing retiree benefits from the families of those who will retire
in the future. All this on top of its demands for reductions in health care and
increased costs passed on to the members. This battle has gone on for way too
long. The Mayor insists that he is for working families and touts about his
mother and fathers UAW retiree benefits that have sustained them in their
retirement and all the while attempts to strip the same from his own employees.
He is a Labor Faker.
Construction work at the Lansing Board of Water and Light is being subcontracted
non-union. This is remediation work that could provide jobs for up to two years
for Teamster Brothers working for Crandall Brother’s Trucking. The Board has
always preached that they will encourage union work but in this case claim they
are unable to help us.
On a bright note the Teamster Carhaul drivers from JackCooper Transport are
almost all called back to work. Some of them have been laid off for up to
twenty-five (25) weeks. The Construction Teamsters at Consumers Concrete,
Crandall Brothers Trucking, Interstate Highway Construction, and Bierlein
Construction are all working steady and have been for the past month or so.
Some Americans are critical of the Federal Government spending programs that are
going on, but they have helped put Teamsters and others back to work. Some of
this money is helping Brother and Sister Teamsters to put food on the table and
have health benefits for their families.
We are planning job actions at the Board of Water and Light. Please contact the
Local Union and get involved in these activities. (887-2944) Whether it is as
simple as writing on a blog or letter to an editor of a newspaper, calling a
Teamster member and encouraging them to support a candidate or issue, or
picketing; we all need to be active and a voice for working families. We need
to stand and help ourselves as no one else looks out for our interests and those
of the working class except the Union Movement and that is You and I.
Fraternally,
Mike Parker
Secretary Treasurer/Principal Officer