Local 70 nominations and elections

On Saturday November 3, Local 70 conducted nominations for officers and officials for the 1/1/08-12/31/10 term of office. This ritual takes place every three years.

I was nominated for President, Milton Lewis was nominated for Vice President, Chuck Mack was nominated for Secretary Treasurer and Rob Dias was nominated for Recording Secretary. No other candidates were nominated for these four positions. In accordance with the IBT constitution, we were re-elected to our respective positions.

Incumbent Business Agents Bob Aiello, Dominic Chiovare, Larry Dias, Marty Frates and Lou Marchetti were nominated for the five Business Agent positions. No other candidates were nominated for Business Agent, and in accordance with the IBT constitution, the five incumbent Business Agents were re-elected.

All of the Officers and Business Agents who were elected at the nomination meeting expressed their gratitude to the membership for their vote of confidence.

Nominations for Trustees included three incumbent Trustees and a Shop Steward nominee. Incumbent Trustees Larry Aiello, Tim Mosier and Felix Martinez were nominated for Trustee positions. DHL Shop Steward Bob Martinez was also nominated for a Trustee position. With four candidates nominated for the three Trustee positions, an election is required.

There has been a spirited campaign in the Trustee's race. With only the Trustee race in contention, the focus has been intense. All of the four nominees have campaigned vigorously for the three Trustee positions.

The outcome of the Trustee's race awaits the counting of the ballots on December 6, 2007. The membership ultimately makes the decision and the democratic process delivers the outcome.

Organizing UPS Freight

Over the last ten months, Business Agent/Organizer Bob Aiello has been building a solid foundation with the drivers and dock workers employed at the Fremont Motor Cargo and Hayward Overnight facilities.

In September, UPS merged these two companies to form what is now UPS Freight. UPS also merged three locations -- Benicia, Fremont and Hayward -- into a break bulk facility in San Leandro. The new UPS Freight facility in San Leandro now employs more than 200 workers.

With the help of the International Union, Aiello and others have been working with the employees at the San Leandro facility. Aiello's goal is to develop active employee committees within this UPS Freight facility. Now that the UPS National Agreement is in place, Aiello can begin the organizing process. There is still much to do. We are confident that this organizing drive will take center stage.

Contracts in the paper industry

Business Agent Dominic Chiovare has been in contract negotiations with two of our major paper companies; Unisource, Pleasanton and Xpedx.

Chiovare concluded and our members ratified the five year agreement with Unisource, Pleasanton. This agreement leads the industry in wages, benefits and conditions. Shifts that lead to seniority were modified from 70 shifts to 50 shifts. Wages increased $.20 per hour every six months for the duration of the agreement. Pension contributions increased $.10 per hour per each year of the agreement. Health and welfare contributions are split -- the employer pays 90% of the contribution rate and the employees pay 10% of the contribution rate. Importantly, the contract retains the twelve month health and welfare coverage for employees off on work related injuries. The sick leave provision was modified to allow for six (PTO) personal time off days per year to be used with a two hour call notice. Shop Steward Isi Garcia and Business Agent Bob Aiello participated in
these negotiations.

Business Agent Dominic Chiovare is currently in negotiation with Xpedx. Shop Stewards Ray Guptil, Jackie Wilson, Lorenzo Perez and Felix Wilson are participating in these negotiations. Business Agent Bob Aiello is also assisting. Language issues have been concluded but economic issues await further meetings. Chiovare is reasonably confident that the economic issues will be
addressed favorably. Wages, pension and health and welfare are all key economic issues. Chiovare does not anticipate a labor dispute and expects a negotiated settlement in early December.

UPS ratification

On October 20, 2007 UPS part-time and fulltime employees assembled at the ILWU auditorium for an update on the Teamsters UPS National Master Tentative Agreement and the UPS Northern California Supplement. Secretary Treasurer Mack and Business Agent Marty Frates reviewed each of the documents.

Chuck asserted that the agreements provide written protection and opportunities, and recommended that our members approve the tentative agreements. Business Agent Frates indicated that the full-time wages were good, but part-time wages were not as they should be. Frates indicated that the three-year progression rates were too long. Both Mack and Frates stated that the economic package was excellent, with wage rates and pension contributions increasing dramatically during the term of this agreement. Moreover, health and welfare benefits are protected under a maintenance of benefits provision.

Both agreements were ratified by our members. The Teamsters UPS National Master Agreement was ratified as well. Our negotiators, Marty Frates and Chuck Mack, deserve much of the credit.