UPS Freight workers say Union Yes!

Drivers and dockworkers at UPS Freight in San Leandro have overwhelmingly opted for Teamster representation. More than 150 of the 200-plus person workforce signed pledge cards during an organizing "blitz" in mid January. Local 70, along with Locals in Boston, Detroit, Memphis and Southern California, are the first wave of UPS Freight organizing.

A special thanks to Local 70 Business Agent Bob Aiello, who has been meeting with the UPS Freight workers for the past six months. He laid the foundation.

The cards were collected over a four day period of around-the-clock action in a truly collaborative effort. Working with Aiello was Joint Council 7 Organizer Pilar Barton and Eddie Mustafa Muhammad from the International Union.

And it couldn't have been done without rank and file members. Thanks to retiree Joe Villareal, Local 70 Conductor Jim Davis, Rich Evans, Quiona Anderson from UPS, Vice President Milton Lewis and Mike Fitzgerald from Yellow Freight.

We hope to have a contract in place by March.

Court rules taxi drivers can organize

For several years now the Local has been working with taxi drivers at the Oakland Airport. The goal -- giving them the right to organize and then bargain collectively.

What had been a real struggle became a real victory in early January when the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the drivers are not independent contractors and must be reclassified as employees. The decision means that more than 100 drivers are covered by collective bargaining rules. Bob Aiello, who represents this group too, has already sent a letter demanding negotiations.

The struggle here is not over but we're committed to achieving economic justice by improving the wages and benefits of these workers.

Join us -- Say No to cross border trucking

Speaking of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, they're going to hear our lawsuit opposing the Bush Administration's Mexico Cross Border Trucking Program on Tuesday, February 12, 2008 in San Francisco.

We have joined with the IBT, Sierra Club, Public Citizen and even the Owner Operators and Independent Drivers Association to bring this action and put an end to an outrageously unsafe and unfair program.

If at all possible, please join us on the morning of February 12 from 8:00-9:00 a.m. at the Federal Courthouse, 95 7th Street in San Francisco. We'll rally to send a message to the Court and the public -- stop this Bush scheme to benefit big business at the public's expense.

Contract Update

The National Master Freight ballots will be counted in mid-February. Members will vote on both the National and Supplement Agreements. If accepted, we move on; if rejected, it's back to the table.

DHL negotiations will resume shortly and probably will occupy a good part of this month. Supplemental talks will be the focus early on, with economics to follow.

SHORT NOTES

The property search continues. Joe Silva has been working almost full time to find a location. It hasn't been an easy or pleasant task but we've made some progress. Not only will we keep members informed, we'll give you the opportunity to approve the deal when it's completed.