local 25 welcomes local 82 members
Transcription
local 25 welcomes local 82 members
S pokesm an Mag W inter 2012_layout 2/1/12 11:13 A M P age c1 WINTER 2012 LOCAL 25 WELCOMES LOCAL 82 MEMBERS S pokesm an Mag W inter 2012_layout 2/1/12 11:13 A M P age c2 5 6 VISIT THE 14 8 In This Issue | Winter 2012 FEATURES 5 On Strike! CertainTeed Workers Take Action Against Corporate Greed 6 10 14 2 18 Secretary-Treasurer’s Report Sharing Ideas: 150 Stewards Attend Annual Seminar 20 Blood Bank 22 Calendar Local 25 Has Banner Year Raising Funds for Toys for Tots 24 Stewards Spotlight 26 Pensioners 27 In Memoriam 28 Retiree Chapter News Spokesman Mark A. Harrington Secretary-Treasurer John A. Murphy Vice President/ Business Agent The store features a select number of different items offered on a seasonal basis: shirts, hats, jackets and sweatshirts. There will also be specialty items available throughout the year. Business Agent Reports TeamstersCare The The “Left Lane” is the name of the new Teamsters Local 25 Store, which is housed in the Day Room at the headquarters at 544 Main Street, Charlestown, Massachusetts. DEPARTMENTS 16 O’Brien Wins! Local 25 President Gets Most Votes in the East Left Lane Mark D. Lessard Recording Secretary/ Asst. Business Agent Jackie Addison Trustee The store will be open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday, and one hour before and one hour after the monthly meetings. The store accepts cash, credit card or debit card. For more information call (617) 241-9687 Sean M. O'Brien, President/Principal Officer John Jay Manley Trustee George Slicis Business Agent Robert Fabrizio Business Agent Steven J. South Business Agent Andrew P. Walsh Trustee Tom Mari Business Agent David A. Pietroforte Business Agent Steven R. Sullivan Organizer Statement of Ownership, Management & Circulation Date of Filing: January 7, 2008 Title of Publication: The Spokesman Frequency of Issue: Quarterly Location of Office: 544 Main Street Boston, MA 02129 Total: 15,000 Editor & Managing Editor: Sean M. O’Brien Ownership: Local 25 Teamsters Union 544 Main Street Boston, MA 02129 Paid and/or requested Circulation: None Total Distribution: 15,000 Total # Copies: 15,000 Free Distribution by Mail: 14,348 Copies not Distributed: 652 (office use..etc) Free Distribution Outside the Mail: 652 S pokesm an Mag W inter 2012_layout 2/1/12 11:13 A M P age 1 President Message from the Dear Brothers and Sisters: As we begin the New Year, I want to wish you and your family members a happy, healthful and prosperous 2012. We have another busy, exciting and challenging year ahead. I want to start off by welcoming the nearly 700 members from Local 82 into Local 25. (Local 82 merged with Local 25 on January 1, 2012.) The merger of our two locals will give all members more power moving forward. Our leadership team looks forward to providing our members from Local 82 with the strong representation they deserve. On pages 24-25, please see the steward spotlights featuring former Local 82 member/stewards. “We need to remain united more than ever and we all need to fight to stand up for our rights as workers. “ –SEAN M. O'BRIEN PRESIDENT/ PRINCIPAL OFFICER We finished 2011 strong with a tremendously successful stewards conference on September 17, 2011. About 150 Local 25 stewards from numerous employers attended this informative conference. As I’ve said many times, our stewards are our workplace leaders and we appreciate that. Stewards are on the front lines every day fighting for worker justice and the rights of their co-workers. This conference was a great opportunity for our stewards to learn about important issues and to share their success stories in the battles they face every day. Another noteworthy success late in 2011 was our Toys for Tots effort, where once again our members’ generosity made a huge difference. We raised more than $25,000 and collected thousands of toys for needy children. WCBV-TV’s Randy Price highlighted Local 25’s efforts on a segment that aired December 12. Local 25 has been serving as a toy drop-off location for the past several years. We all know times are tough for many Local 25 families, so we appreciate your donations to help put smiles on children’s faces who otherwise may have gone without. Of course there was the International Union election, where General President Jim Hoffa was re-elected to another five-year term and Ken Hall was elected General Secretary-Treasurer, replacing Tom Keegel. I want to thank you for helping me top the ticket in the East as International Union Vice President. I am honored and proud to have this opportunity to serve in this new leadership position. Local 25 member turnout was strong in the election and I thank you for participating. Exercising your right to vote is vital in having a strong voice in your union. I urge everyone to continue to get involved in your Local 25 by attending membership meetings and taking part in other efforts. It’s exciting to begin a new year, but I want to remind you of the challenges ahead. The 2012 elections will be very important for workers nationwide. We will need all hands on deck to re-elect Barack Obama President and to elect Elizabeth Warren to the U.S. Senate. Meanwhile, the War on Workers will continue as companies and employers try to take us on. We need to remain united more than ever and we all need to fight to stand up for our rights as workers. This is about defending what we have worked so hard to achieve in recent years. This is about protecting our futures. This is about protecting our families’ futures. Fraternally, Sean M. O'Brien President/Principal Officer S pokesm an Mag W inter 2012_layout 2/1/12 11:13 A M P age 2 Business Agent Dedicated to Our Local Union Members Vice-President and Business Agent John Murphy We are wrapping up contract negotiations at Cambridge Offset Printing. We will work hard to maintain the Teamster pension as well as a wage increase. President O’Brien has given me some new assignments. I will be handling the Boston Globe, SAF Sales in Stoneham, and Gioioso & Sons in Hyde Park. In the Freight Division, a new ruling on restricting the use of cellular phones while driving became effective January 3, 2012. The new rule restricts a CMV driver from holding a mobile telephone to conduct a voice communication, dialing a mobile telephone by pressing more than a single button, or reaching for a mobile phone in an unacceptable and unsafe manner. Only the use of a hands-free phone located in close proximity to the driver would be in compliance. At DHL, we held a special meeting with our members from DHL and AEI to ratify Local 25’s action regarding our contractual language on pension. In the Airline Division, the United Airlines mechanics’ contract was ratified by 69 percent of our membership. The contract provides for significant wage increases, maintenance of health care benefits and enhanced job security for more than 5,000 members nationwide. Local 25 members voted to ratify by a 94percent margin, the highest in the country. As always, don’t forget the Credit Union, run by Teamsters for Teamsters. Business Agent George Slicis I have recently ratified a new three-year deal with Angelica Textiles Services in Somerville, Massachusetts. I would like to thank my steward, Jose Perez, for his help in negotiating another good contract for the members. I have also recently ratified a new contract for the North Reading DPW workers. It was a first Teamster contract for this group 2 | The SPOKESMAN | WINTER 2012 | www.teamsterslocal25.com and I look forward representing them. I would like to thank the committee members, Joe Pascucci and Chris Demming, for their hard work and determination to get the group a good contract for the next three years. I have reached a tentative agreement with Cambridge Health Alliance. This is also a first-time Teamster contract and negotiations were very difficult. I hope to bring it back to the new members to vote on it. I have been in negotiations with Certainteed (Bird) for several months and the company submitted a best final offer to us which the members voted down 68-2 and authorized us to strike if necessary. We informed the company that it was voted down and we were willing to go back to the table. However, the company was not willing to move on its last offer. The company wants to take the members out of the Teamsters Health Care plan and put them into a company health plan that has higher co-pays, higher deductibles and substandard coverage for our members. We put the members out on strike on December 19 at 3 p.m. and have had a 24-hour, daily picket line set up in front of the plant. The courage of both the members employed there and President Sean O’Brien has been huge during these tough times. Nobody wants to strike but sometimes that’s what it takes to protect benefits you have enjoyed for years and to show that you are willing to fight for them. Happy New Year to all. Business Agent Tom Mari I have ongoing negotiations with the city of Woburn department heads and have requested the Massachusetts Labor Board to assign a mediator due to the city’s unwillingness to move on many issues. The members in Woburn are committed to obtaining a fair contract that will protect and improve their working conditions. Also in 2012, as I have reported in the past we will be negotiating four out of five solid waste agreements where Local 25 inherited old Local 379 agreements that have numerous issues that need to be addressed. I ask that all members who work in the solid waste industry come together, stand strong and let the S pokesm an Mag W inter 2012_layout 2/1/12 11:13 A M P age 3 Reports companies see that the Teamsters in Boston will not accept a substandard agreement. This spring I will also be negotiating the Boston Sand and Gravel contract where we have 50 strong members who produce and deliver concrete throughout the Boston area. Boston Sand is expecting to have a busy spring and summer due to numerous construction projects that are kicking off. I have had many assignment changes effective January 1, 2012, and have been assigned the newly merged Trade Show industry from Local 82. There are 28 contracts that all expire on March 31, 2012. This is a tremendous challenge that I proudly accept and I look forward to making the former Local 82 members proud to be members of the strongest local union in the country—Local 25. Lastly, I would like to thank all the members I have represented in the past and in the future for your continued support and commitment to Teamsters Local 25. Stop & Shop hired an engineering firm this past fall to evaluate the time standards in the warehouse in Freetown. The company implemented the changes from this study in early December. The Teamsters’ engineers will be at the distribution center during the first week in February to validate the changes that were implemented by the company. I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you who donated to the 2011 Toys-For-Tots campaign. Even during these trying times, we were able to raise more this year than in previous years. I am extremely pleased to announce that, because of you, we were able to take care of every charity that reached out to us several times over, along with taking care of all of our members who were in need this year. I want to give a special thank you to each of our retirees, Joe Conti, Billy Grubbs and Kevin Lally, for their tireless commitment year after year in making this Toys-For-Tots campaign the success it is. They truly are our greatest asset. I hope you all had a safe and happy 2012, and I look forward to seeing you soon. Business Agent Robert Fabrizio As of this writing, I am about to finish negotiations with Vocell Bus. This is a newly organized group in Malden, Massachusetts with 84 new members. I am confident that I will get a tentative agreement by January. I am also currently in negotiations with the security guards at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Brighton, Massachusetts, which is also a newly organized group with 22 new members. I am happy to announce that I was able to ratify a one-year extension for the drivers and mechanics at Peter Pan Bus Lines in Chelsea, Massachusetts. I was able to get them a 2-percent wage increase along with an additional paid personal day. I was also successful in reducing the health care costs of workers who were paying at a higher rate. I have two more contracts that are expiring this year. The first one is the Norwell Custodians, whose contract expires in July. The second one is Kuehne & Nagel in Franklin, Massachusetts. Their contract expires this coming August. I will be having proposal meetings with members of both of these companies in the next several months. Business Agent Dave Pietroforte Since my last report I have completed contract talks with xpedx. We agreed on a one-year deal and maintained pension and health benefits. At East Boston Health Center we were successful in negotiating a new three-year deal with increased wages, and all contract language remained the same. At Paul Revere Transportation in Chelsea, I have reached a tentative agreement with the company on a new five-year deal with additional vacation, sick days and increased wages. On January 7, members ratified the contract. At Ryerson Steel in Ayer, Massachusetts, we will resume talks in early February. Also, at Sears, talks will begin on February 6, 7 and 8. I would like to thank my stewards for their hard work on these negotiations. Since my last report I have settled all the remaining arbitration issues. At East Boston Health, I was successful in securing 14 hours of back pay for a bidding issue. At Air Gas www.teamsterslocal25.com | WINTER 2012 | The SPOKESMAN | 3 S pokesm an Mag W inter 2012_layout 2/1/12 11:13 A M P age 4 Business Agent Reports in Hingham I was able to settle an hourly wage issue and the member was awarded nine months hourly back pay and also resulted in the member receiving an hourly wage increase. I have been assigned three additional companies to represent. They are Waldo Brothers in Roxbury, Angelica Textile Services in Somerville and Veterans Taxi in Newton. I have met with the stewards and members and look forward to representing them. I hope you and your family had a safe and enjoyable holiday season. Business Agent Steve South We have concluded the negotiations in the town of Watertown on behalf of the DPW members. We signed a strong three-year contract that was ratified unanimously and includes many improvements in wages, benefits and working conditions. Thank you to the negotiating committee who worked hard for more than a year to get the deal done. On January 1, the new South Shore Regional Emergency Communication Center (SSRECC) opened in Hingham, Massachusetts. This new dispatch center employs 25 employees from four different towns and has the most cutting-edge technology available to dispatchers. On January 9, we filed petitions at the Massachusetts Division of Labor Relations to represent all dispatchers, call takers and supervisors who work at the SSRECC. We look forward to negotiating a Teamster contract for our new and existing members that work there. We just finished peak season at UPS and it was one of the busiest on record. The stewards worked hard to enforce the contract while working 12 to 18 hours per day. I thank them for all of their efforts. We continue to have a significant amount of payroll discrepancies in our members’ paychecks. Be sure to keep track of your hours and contact me or one of the stewards with any issues. We had a credit union sign-up day on November 10 at Chelmsford UPS with a very successful turnout. Thank you to Carol and Jack who always do a great job helping our members with their banking needs. Please keep in mind that the biennial bid will begin in February and the vacation picks will begin in April. 4 | The SPOKESMAN | WINTER 2012 | www.teamsterslocal25.com On January 1, we assumed Teamsters Local 82 and President O’Brien assigned me to represent the Moving and Storage industry. I look forward to working with all of the stewards and members who work in this industry to protect our work and organize the nonunion companies in Massachusetts. I was also assigned the city of Cambridge and also look forward to representing our brother and sister members working in the city. Happy New Year to you and your families! Recording Secretary, Assistant Business Agent Mark Lessard I am currently in negotiations with the town of Acton, Massachusetts on behalf of the civilian 911 dispatchers. I have several other 911 dispatch centers that I will begin to negotiate in early 2012, including the towns of Brookline, Concord, Sudbury and Saugus. It is going to be a busy year for me in regards to negotiating contracts. I have several contracts that will expire during the first six months of 2012 including DSM Neoresins, Americold Logistics, UMass Boston (patrolmen and sergeants), UMass Lowell (police and security officers), town of Winthrop (clerical) and First Student. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the stewards that I work with at all of my current assignments and I looked forward to working with them in 2012. I have recently been assigned a few new groups that I will begin to represent in 2012, which include Jet-A-Way, Melrose School Administration, Mount Ida College (maintenance and bus drivers) and the members at St. Michael’s Cemetery. I look forward to meeting all of these members. At Hertz/Logan, I continue to work on the members’ grievances and have been spending a lot of my time there getting to know all the members and helping them with their concerns. S pokesm an Mag W inter 2012_layout 2/1/12 11:13 A M P age 5 ON STRIKE CertainTeed Workers Take Action Against Corporate Greed Several hundred Teamsters Local 25 members and supporters from Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire descended on the work site of CertainTeed on Thursday, January 5, 2012, to bring attention to the company’s repeated attacks on its employees. Local 25 had been negotiating with CertainTeed—a French-owned maker of roofing products Congressman Stephen Lynch (D-MA) and asphalt shingles—until and Sean M. O’Brien, President and the contract expired at Principal Officer 12:01 a.m. on December 19, 2011. Despite their best efforts, negotiators from Local 25 were unable to make any progress toward resolving any of the outstanding issues with CertainTeed and the company left the union no option but to strike. “The company has become the epitome of greed, treating its workforce unfairly and without regard for health and welfare and job security,” said Sean M. O’Brien, President and Principal Officer of Teamsters Local 25. “CertainTeed is a prime example of what happens when a multimillion-dollar corporation buys out a local business. Shortly after the French company acquired the locally owned Bird Corporation in 1998, workers have seen the stark differences between a local company that cares about its employees and a conglomerate only concerned with the bottom line. With no local ties, they are able to bully their workforce and enough is enough.” The strike affects 90 members. CertainTeed wants to drastically reduce the amount of health insurance they provide to workers and, in return, give employees a one-time $1,000 bonus. These latest cuts come on top of other concessions CertainTeed workers have made in the past. “We know that homeowners have a choice in what roofing materials and shingles they buy and are asking the public not to purchase CertainTeed products at this time,” O’Brien said. CertainTeed, based in Valley Forge, Pa., is a subsidiary of SaintGobain, one of the top-100 industrial companies in the world. They have approximately 7,000 employees and 70 facilities throughout the United States and Canada. www.teamsterslocal25.com | WINTER 2012 | The SPOKESMAN | 5 150 “ SHARING STEWARDS ATTEND ANNUAL SEMINAR I DEAS S pokesm an Mag W inter 2012_layout 2/1/12 11:13 A M P age 6 OUR STEWARDS ARE THE HEART AND SOUL OF LOCAL 25 6 | The SPOKESMAN | WINTER 2012 | www.teamsterslocal25.com I FEEL IT IS IMPORTANT TO GATHER ALL OF OUR STEWARDS TOGETHER ON A YEARLY BASIS AND SHARE IDEAS AND OUR VISION FOR THE FUTURE “ Teamsters Local 25’s annual Steward Seminar was a huge success, with about 150 stewards turning out to learn about issues important for their jobs fighting for their co-workers. The event was held on September 17, 2011, at the Montvale Plaza in Stoneham. A big part of the Teamsters is our stewards, who serve inside the operations day in and day out. Our goal is to keep communication lines open at all times and stewards have the most knowledge to fight for their coworkers. Local 25 got a lot accomplished at the seminar with arbitration role-playing, discussing DRIVE (our political action committee) and hazardous materials (HAZMAT) training. “Our stewards are the heart and soul of Local 25,” said Sean M. O’Brien, Local 25 President and Principal Officer. “Without smart, creative and empowered stewards, Local 25 would not be as successful as we are in the workplace. I know what a steward has to go through on a day-to-day basis because I have served as steward myself.” Local 25 was also privileged to have a special guest, U.S. Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), join us. Rep. Markey addressed the stewards on the importance of voting. He spoke about his leadership in Congress and promised to continue to fight for the working families. It was great to see Rep. Markey with our Teamsters Local 25 steward shirt. President O’Brien wrapped up the seminar with thanks and appreciation for all the stewards’ efforts to keep our union strong. “I feel it is important to gather all of our stewards together on a yearly basis and share ideas and our vision for the future. It is quite an impressive group of leaders and I thank them everyday for what they do for us,” O’Brien said. S pokesm an Mag W inter 2012_layout 2/1/12 11:14 A M P age 7 LEFT: L to R: Stephanie DiMauro, James Paige and Flo Bailey from Hertz RIGHT: L to R: President Sean M. O’Brien with Congressman Ed Markey (D-MA) RIGHT: L to R: Katie MacDonald, Brenda Dionne, Trish DiSilva, and Jen Todd from the Local 25 office staff BELOW: President Sean M. O’Brien, President and Principal Officer, Local 25 ABOVE: Jimmy Donovan, UPS Somerville LEFT: L to R: Eric Morash, Wayne Maquire, Brian Reaney, Mike Lynch, Mike O’Brien, all from Massport; Bobby O’Brien, Saf Sales Handling Company; and Bob Elliott, Massport ABOVE: L to R: Ernie Cannon, Mystic Island Transportation; James “JT” Turner, Xpedx LEFT: L to R: IBT DRIVE Representatives Tim Dunn and Tom Curtin with Local 25 Business Agent Steve South S pokesm an Mag W inter 2012_layout 2/1/12 11:14 A M P age 8 Ace in the Hole! 2011 Charity Golf Outing Raises Nearly $40,000 The Teamsters Local 25 Scholarship/Charity Golf Outing was held Saturday, Sept. 24, 2011, and 128 golfers turned out to help raise close to $40,000. The golfers descended on the Windham Country Club in southern New Hampshire for a day of golf and fun. This was our most successful tournament by raising close to $40,000. Each year we are amazed by people’s generosity. The Golf Tournament supports the Teamsters Local 25 scholarship program and charities. The tournament was a 1 p.m. shotgun start with a scramble/best ball style. Golfers had the chance to win a 2012 Ford Fusion two-year lease or Sandals vacation with two hole-in-one contests, as well as trying their swing at the longest drive, closest to pin and 50/50 contests. Congratulations to Secretary-Treasurer Mark Harrington and his team for taking home first place in the tournament! We’d also like to thank the many sponsors who continue to support the golf tournament each year. Sponsors Admiral Metals Allied Waste Services-Boston All Bright Travel & Sandals Arrow Paper Corporation Boston Carmens Union Local 589 Boston Police Patrolmen's Assn. Inc. Boston Sand & Gravel Company Brady Realty Group Charles P. Blouin, Inc. D'Arrigo Bros. Company Dave Does Windows Plus 8 | The SPOKESMAN | WINTER 2012 | www.teamsterslocal25.com Delta Dental / Denta Quest DiSilva Transportation, Inc. Eascorp First Union Promo LLC Greater Boston Labor Council Halo Branded Solutions IBEW, Local 103 Jim Stover John Cerasuolo Co. Inc. Loomis-Sayles & Company, LP M.S. Walker, Inc. Mail Handlers Union Local 301 Manfi Leasing Corp. Martignetti Companies Meketa Investment Group. Inc. Michael W. Morrissey Committee Michael A. Sullivan Committee Melissa Hurley / MJH Communications New England Millwork , Inc. New Penn Motor Express, Inc. Omni Ad Specialties OPEIU Local 6 Raso's Grille - Medford, MA S. Strock & Co., Inc. Segal Roitman, LLP Segreve & Hall Insurance Associates, Inc. Sonet Electric Systems, LLC Sullivan Plumbing Corp. TeamstersCare Staff S pokesm an Mag W inter 2012_layout 2/1/12 11:14 A M P age 9 PICTURED TOP ROW: FAR LEFT: L to R: Local 25 Secretary-Treasurer Mark Harrington; Brenda Dionne, Local 25 Office Staff; and John A. Murphy, VicePresident/Business Agent MIDDLE: L to R: Dennis Murray, George Kelly , Larry Davis, Mark Harrington, Secretary-Treasurer Local 25, Wayne Musgrove RIGHT: L to R: Local 633 members Tom Noonan,Larry Fluery, John Nacos, Mike O’Toole RIGHT: L to R: Jimmy WilliamsManfi/Stop & Shop, Bob Mcauphuin-Manfi/Stop & Shop, Marty Landry-Manfi/Stop & Shop, John Coppper-Manfi/Stop & Shop PICTURED BOTTOM ROW: FAR LEFT: L to R: John Capadona, Scott Hastings, both of UPS; George Slicis, Business Agent Local 25; Dan Gookin, UPS MIDDLE: L to R: John “Juice” Juszkiewicz-UPS, Walter Baciqalupo-UPS, Maurice Richards-UPS,Ken Koutamas-UPS RIGHT: L to R: Local 633 members Tom Noonan,Larry Fluery, John Nacos, Mike O’Toole ns s, Teamsters Joint Council 10 New England Teamsters Local Union No. 79 Teamsters Local Union No. 82 Teamsters Local Union No. 127 Teamsters Local Union No. 170 Teamsters Local Union No. 191 Teamsters Local Union No. 210 Teamsters Local Union No. 259 Teamsters Local Union No. 404 Teamsters Local Union No. 443 Teamsters Local Union No. 493 Teamsters Local Union No. 633 Teamsters Local Union No. 641 Teamsters Local Union No. 671 Teamsters Local Union No. 701 Teamsters Local Union No. 1 50 Teamsters Local 804 I.B.T. The Office Supply People, Inc. Vertifi Software LLC (Use to be Eascorp) Waltham Lumber Company GOLD ABS Investment Management Blue Cross/Blue Sheild of Massachusetts DBR Group, Inc. Consolidated Service Corporation Feinberg, Campbell & Zack New England Teamsters FCU Regan Associates, Chartered Teamsters Local 25 Group Legal Plan The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company,LLC Teamsterscare "Blood Pressure Screening Benefit" Teamsters Local Union No. 769 Teamsters Local 25 SILVER Capital Waster Services, Inc. Davis Vision Inc. JPD Management Trust, Inc. JP Morgan Asset Management Keches Law Group Lord Abbett & Co., Inc. National Retail Systems, Inc. Paul Revere Transportation LLC Petro. Oil Rothschild Asset. Management Shaughnessy & Ahern Co. Sparta Asset Management Sunrise Scavenger Teamsters Local Union No. 42 Teamsters Local Union No. 251 Teamsters Local Union No. 299 Teamsters Local Union No. 707 Mark Lessard, Recording Secretary www.teamsterslocal25.com | WINTER 2012 | The SPOKESMAN | 9 S pokesm an Mag W inter 2012_layout 2/1/12 11:14 A M P age 10 T hanks to the generosity of members, Local 25 raised $25,487 in cash for Toys for Tots in 2011, up about $2,000 from 2010. Local 25’s Toys for Tots campaign officially began in 2000. Local 25 has been raising money for the program since 2006 as a supplement to the toy donations. Local 25 can boast a six-year cash total of $135,700. The funding is used to buy toys and fulfill the big-ticket requests like bicycles and highly sought-after electronics and gift cards for disadvantaged families. Toys for Tots began in 1947 when Major Bill Hendricks, the United States Marine Corps Reserve and a group of Marine Reservists in Los Angeles collected and distributed 5,000 toys to needy children. The idea came from Hendricks’ wife, Diane. In the fall of 1947, Diane handcrafted a Raggedy Ann doll and asked Bill to deliver the doll to an organization, which would give it to a needy child at Christmas. When Bill determined that no agency existed, Diane told him that he should start one. He did. The 1947 pilot project was so successful that the Marine Corps adopted Toys for Tots in 1948 and expanded it into a nationwide campaign. That year, Marine Corps Reserve units across the nation conducted Toys for Tots campaigns in each community in which a Marine Reserve Center was located. Marines have conducted successful nationwide campaigns at Christmas each year since 1948. “Our Toys for Tots campaign continues to grow every year. I am so proud of our members who give their hard-earned money or come to our union hall in droves to drop off toys for the needy,” said Sean M. O’Brien, Local 25 President and Principal Officer. Each year around Thanksgiving, Local 25 asks its stewards to place a Toys for Tots box in the workplace and the membership never hesitates to fill the boxes with toys. Many times the boxes are filled two and three times before Christmas. Once the Toys for Tots boxes are filled up, the Local 25 van shows up with Retiree Chapter President Joe Conti behind the wheel, along with his elves Billy Grubbs and Kevin Lally, and they load up the van and bring the toys to the 40foot container that sits in the Local 25 parking lot. The Teamsters Local 25 Toys for Tots Campaign is spearheaded by Business Agents Robert E. Fabrizio and David A. Pietroforte. “We have a great Toys for Tots team in place at Local 25,” said Fabrizio, a former Marine himself. 10 | The SPOKESMAN | WINTER 2012 | www.teamsterslocal25.com “Everyone works so well together, from the stewards to the members to the retirees, to make this program so successful. We get a great deal done in just a few weeks.” Over the 58 years of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program, Marines have distributed more than 351 million toys for 166 million needy children. This charitable endeavor has made the U.S. Marines the unchallenged leaders in looking after needy children at Christmas. Over its 15-year lifespan, the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation has supplemented local toy collections with more than 64.5 million toys valued at more than $344 million. It has provided promotion and support materials valued at more than $3.9 million. “Local 25 is honored to be able to help the needy in our community,” said Pietroforte, CoChair of the Teamsters Local 25 Toys for Tots Committee. “We have the most generous membership I have ever seen. The money and the toys keep coming regardless of how lousy the economy seems to be.” anta ou S pokesm an Mag W inter 2012_layout 2/1/12 11:14 A M P age 11 a has lves u have eamsters Teamsters Local 25 Has Banner Year Raising Funds for Toys for Tots S pokesm an Mag W inter 2012_layout 2/1/12 11:15 A M P age 12 2012 SCHOLARSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT If you have a son or daughter that is a high school senior and plans to attend college – request Request your application today! a scholarship application today! The sons and daughters of Teamster members have the opportunity to apply for the 2012 annual scholarships offered by Teamsters Local Union No. 25, Joint Council 10 New England and the International To request applications, please contact the Scholarship Department at Brotherhood of Teamsters. High School Seniors 617-241-8825 ext. 280 that plan to attend an accredited college or univer- or by e-mail at sity are eligible to apply for the scholarships. 12 | The SPOKESMAN | WINTER 2012 | www.teamsterslocal25.com [email protected] S pokesm an Mag W inter 2012_layout 2/1/12 11:15 A M P age 13 savee the da date! ate! Gala G Gal l ffor A la Au Autism utism ti SATURDAY, APRIL 7, 2012 8 pm to midnight *OUFSDPOUJOFOUBM)PUFMr#PTUPO.BTTBDIVTFśT 5JDLFUT -USICBY4HE-ARSELSs(OSTEDBY2ANDY0RICE 3ILENT!UCTION#USTOM#HOPPER2AFFLE A special room rate of $215 is available through March 8, 2012 at the Intercontinental Hotel at 1-877-747-Boston. Reference “Teamsters Local 25 Autism Gala” when making your reservation. 5PPSEFSUJDLFUTPSMFBSOBCPVUTQPOTPSTIJQPQQPSUVOJUJFTQMFBTF DPOUBDU$P$IBJST5PN.BSJPS5SJTI%J4JMWBBUPS UEJTJMWB!UFBNTUFSTMPDBMDPN For more information about the custom chopper raffle and the Gala, go to XXXUFBNTUFSTMPDBMBVUJTNDPN Sean M. O’Brien, President/Principal Officer, Teamsters Local 25 S pokesm an Mag W inter 2012_layout 2/1/12 11:15 A M P age 14 O’BRIEN WINS! LOCAL 25 PRESIDENT GETS MOST VOTES IN THE EAST 14 | The SPOKESMAN | WINTER 2012 | www.teamsterslocal25.com S pokesm an Mag W inter 2012_layout 2/1/12 11:15 A M P age 15 Local 25 President and Principal Officer Sean M. O’Brien was elected Eastern Region Vice President of the Teamsters as part of the Jim Hoffa-Ken ” THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR ME AND I CONSIDER IT AN HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO SERVE. “ –SEAN M. O’BRIEN Hall leadership team, and O’Brien said he looks forward to serving all 1.4 million Teamsters in his new role. General President Hoffa, his running mate for General Secretary-Treasurer, Ken Hall, and their entire slate were elected by a wide margin this past fall. The Hoffa-Hall Slate defeated their two challengers with 60 percent of the vote, according to unofficial results provided by the Office of the Election Supervisor. O’Brien received the most votes among nine Eastern Region Vice Presidents, picking up 45,579 votes. In fact, he received more votes than any other vice presidential candidate. “I am honored and gratified to serve as International Union Vice President, and I want to thank all the Local 25 members who took the time out to vote,” O’Brien said. “Local 25 members helped me receive the most votes among the nine Eastern Region Vice Presidents, and I am grateful for the overwhelming support locally and throughout the Eastern region.” O’Brien said the union-wide position is an opportunity to help 1.4 million Teamsters during the worst American economy since the Great Depression. “I will work closely with General President Hoffa, General Secretary-Treasurer Ken Hall and the entire Executive Board to develop and implement policies that will strengthen and assist our members and their families,” O’Brien said. “This is a great opportunity for me and I consider it an honor and privilege to serve.” O’Brien said serving as International Union Vice President will in no way diminish his role at Local 25. “I am first and foremost your President and Principal Officer and I will continue to take on this job 110 percent to make sure Local 25 members’ interests are protected,” O’Brien said. “I am a fourth-generation Teamster. I will never forget where I come from.” O’Brien and the rest of the union’s leaders will be sworn in soon. ‘Members Have Spoken’ “The members have spoken,” Hoffa said. “This is not just our slate’s victory but a victory for all working Americans who are fighting to save America’s middle class. We traveled across this country to mobilize our members to fight the right-wing attack on workers. Teamster members responded because they know it is not workers who are to blame for the crisis facing America, it is the greed and corruption of big business and Wall Street and their bought-and-paid-for puppets in Congress. “Now that this election is completed we will intensify our efforts in the fight for all working families,” Hoffa added. “The Teamsters’ strength is in organizing the unorganized, fighting for strong health care, good wages, secure retirement, and holding employers and politicians accountable.” Hall told supporters that he was humbled by the overwhelming support of the members and pledged to ramp up the campaign against corporate greed. “We will never let up in the ongoing battle to provide good wages, benefits and working conditions for our 1.4 million members across North America, and organize tens of thousands of unrepresented workers. The right-wing corporate interests that are trying to destroy America’s middle class will find an energized and mobilized Teamsters Union that will fight to defend the principles that made this country great.” The Hoffa-Hall Slate swept all five regions of the union; the East, Central, South, West and Canada. Hoffa first took office following his victory in December 1998 and was re-elected in 2001 and 2006 by substantial margins. By winning this election, Hoffa is elected to another five-year term that will begin in mid-March 2012. Strong Legacy Having held office for nearly 13 years, Hoffa is the third longest serving General President in the 108-year history of the Teamsters Union. Only Dan Tobin, who served for 47 years, and James R. Hoffa, who served for 14 years, have held office longer. The country’s most recognized labor leader, Hoffa has been in the forefront in the fight to block anti-union legislation that popped up in states across the country following the 2010 offyear elections. He dubbed the right-wing offensive the “War on Workers” and has spent the last year leading rallies in Ohio, California, Wisconsin, Michigan and dozens of other states threatened by the anti-union forces. Hoffa’s efforts culminated in the overwhelming victory for union members in Ohio in November when Ohio voters defeated an anti-union measure that would have severely weakened collective bargaining rights for more than 350,000 public employees. “Ohio voters sent a wake-up call to American politicians: If you try to blame workers for problems caused by Wall Street you will pay a price. If you attack workers, you will lose. But if you stand up and fight for the middle class, you can win,” Hoffa said. Hoffa, Hall and their slate pledged to continue the progress the Teamsters have made in national bargaining, organizing and political action. “This year will be a watershed year for Teamsters and for this nation,” Hoffa said. “Under our leadership, the Teamsters Union will continue to be a force for change and will lead our nation in efforts to improve the lives of working families.” Vote totals can be viewed at www.ibtvote.org. www.teamsterslocal25.com | WINTER 2012 | The SPOKESMAN | 15 S pokesm an Mag W inter 2012_layout 2/1/12 11:15 A M P age 16 Board of Trustees Teamsters Union 25 Health Services & Insurance Plan Manage Your Medications Sean M. O’Brien Union Co-Chairman Mark A. Harrington Union Trustee John A. Murphy Union Trustee Thomas G. Mari Union Trustee Charles F. Arbing Employer Co-Chairman John Remillard Employer Trustee Tom J. Ventura Employer Trustee John D. O’Reilly Employer Trustee Research suggests that the older we get the more medications we take. This is good news as doctors have more options to treat a variety of medical conditions. Unfortunately, this can also make it harder to keep track of your medicine and may increase the risk of drug interactions. To help you manage your medications, keep a list of everything you are taking, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, and any vitamins, herbs, or other supplements. This list should include the following: • Name of the drug • Dosage information (mg per pill; this is usually on the medicine bottle) • Schedule (day of the week and time of day it is taken) • Reason for taking it • Doctor who prescribed it Don’t forget the medicines you take every now and then or “as needed”; for instance, drugs for pain, common cold, fever, itching, or sleep. Keep a copy of this list in your wallet or purse so that it’s there for each medical provider and in case of emergency. Update it each time a medicine gets added, taken away, or if a dose changes. Source: American Cancer Society Winter Weather Workouts for Your Health! If you’re an outdoor lover, you may not want to take your workout routine inside when the weather turns cold. To stay safe while exercising outside in winter: • Take extra time to warm up properly. When it’s cold out, muscles may be at greater risk of injury because they’re colder and tighter. • Dress in layers that you can remove as soon as you start to sweat and put back on as needed. • If it’s dark, wear reflective clothing or tape. Wear footwear with enough traction to prevent falls, especially if it’s icy. • Wind chill extremes can make outdoor exercise unsafe. If it’s well below zero out or the wind chill is extreme, you may want to choose an indoor activity until it warms up a bit. • Wear sunscreen on exposed skin. You can get sunburned even in winter. Almost everyone can do some kind of exercise safely during cold weather. But if you have health conditions, especially asthma or heart problems, ask your doctor first. Source: American Cancer Society/Healthy Living S pokesm an Mag W inter 2012_layout 2/1/12 11:15 A M P age 17 TeamstersCare News TeamstersCare to Partner with Blue Cross Blue Shield to provide Medical and Behavioral Health (mental health and substance abuse) coverage Effective January 1, 2012 President O’Brien and the TeamstersCare Trustees are always searching for ways to manage the rising cost of health care benefits. To that end, the Trustees have decided to partner exclusively with Blue Cross Blue Shield for Medical and Behavioral Health (mental health and substance abuse) services for Members and Early Retirees with TeamstersCare medical coverage. The new TeamstersCare plan is called HMO Blue New England. You should have received an informational letter and a Summary of Benefits booklet. ID cards were mailed in late December. You will need to use your new ID card when receiving any medical or behavioral health services as of January 1, 2012. If you have not received a new ID card, contact Charlestown Member Services at 617-241-9220, ext. 2. Based on the cost savings projected by our new relationship with Blue Cross Blue Shield, we can continue to provide quality health care without increasing costs to our members. If you have questions or concerns about this change, feel free to contact Charlestown Member Services. Important Changes to your TeamstersCare Mental Health Benefits for Members and Retirees with TeamstersCare Medical Coverage Effective January 1, 2012 Effective January 1, 2012, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts will provide behavioral health (mental health and substance abuse) coverage for TeamstersCare members and their families for outpatient therapy, medication management and inpatient hospitalizations. No referral or pre-authorization is necessary; you simply make an appointment to see any in-network provider and pay your copay when services are received. For more information or to search for Blue Cross providers go online to www.bcbsma.com or call 1-800-444-2426. TeamstersCare in Charlestown will continue to provide Employee Assistance Program (EAP) benefits to our eligible members and families. Our licensed clinicians will meet with you to discuss your concerns on a personal level. These confidential benefits are provided at no cost or copay to you. TeamstersCare Directory www.teamsterscare.com www.teamsterscare.com Charlestown Office 16 Sever St. Charlestown, MA 02129 Administration • Audiology Dental • Member Services Local Tel: 617-241-9220 Within MA: 800-442-9939 Out of State: 800-225-6135 Fax: 617-241-8168 Charlestown Pharmacy 552 Main St. Charlestown, MA 02129 Local Tel: 617-241-9024 Toll Free: 800-235-0760 Fax: 617-241-5025 Stoughton Pharmacy 1214 Park St. Stoughton, MA 02072 Tel: 781-297-9764 Fax: 781-297-9370 Stoughton Dental Office 1214 Park St. Stoughton, MA 02072 Tel: 781-297-7360 Toll Free: 877-326-1999 Fax: 781-297-7830 Chelmsford Dental Office 4 Meeting House Rd. Chelmsford, MA 01824 Tel: 978-256-9728 Toll Free: 800-258-2111 Fax: 978-256-9846 Employee Assistance Program (EAP) 16 Sever St. Charlestown, MA 02129 Toll Free:800-851-8326 Fax: 781-321-6501 If you have questions or concerns, call 1-800-851-8326 to speak directly with your TeamstersCare EAP staff. www.teamsterslocal25.com | WINTER 2012 | The SPOKESMAN | 17 S pokesm an Mag W inter 2012_layout 2/1/12 11:15 A M P age 18 A Message from Mark Harrington Local 25 Secretary-Treasurer I hope that all my brothers and sisters and family members enjoyed a great holiday season. Once again, Local 25 has had a very eventful year. I, along with the rest of Local 25’s delegates, traveled to the Teamsters Convention where it seemed that Local 25 was on constant display. I had the pleasure of nominating Sean O’Brien for Eastern Region Vice President. I also had the pleasure of witnessing firsthand his election in Washington, D.C. in November. This is a great accomplishment for Sean and also for this local. This year, Local 25 again finished in the black. We continue to be resourceful with your dues money while providing as many services as we do. Your business agents and representatives work very hard on your behalf and are greatly aware of the role they play in your work life ensuring that you are properly represented. We continue to be challenged on all fronts. As of this writing we are engaged in a fight with Bird CertainTeed Company. Another multi-national company that believes that America is a third-world nation where people should just be happy to have a job and take whatever they are given. They must be shocked when they see the resolve of our members. The workers at Bird are truly a melting pot of the new America, diverse in every way. These workers literally hail from all over the world—Africa, Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe and Southern Europe. They have all come together as one to stand for what they believe in—quality health care, a Teamster benefit. They will not accept the company’s inferior plan. Local 25 is supporting them in every way. We have a constant presence of officers and agents on the line. They are receiving a strike benefit from the International Union and the local, as well as being provided meals. In turn these members are showing up in droves and are standing tall. Seeing them in action makes you realize what Teamster power is all about. I want to thank all my stewards for their outstanding service this past year. I have been given some new assignments which include the rigging division. I look forward to that challenge and working with the stewards and members in that group. 18 | The SPOKESMAN | WINTER 2012 | www.teamsterslocal25.com S pokesm an Mag W inter 2012_layout 2/1/12 11:15 A M P age 19 New England Teamsters Federal Credit Union THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS John A. Murphy Chairman Sean O'Brien 1st Vice Chairman Mark A. Harrington Treasurer Alice Riley-King Secretary Ernest C. Sheehan, Jr. Joseph Conti Tom Mari We Have the BEST RATES in Town! New and Used As Low as 2.49 % APR* Steven J. South Finance or Refinance your car or truck with us and save thousands! SUPERVISORY COMMITTEE Apply Today, a Dependable Safe New Ride tomorrow! David Pietroforte George Slicis Chairman Robert E. Bayusik Joseph J. Bairos Richard Laughton George Belanger Call 1-800-343-7126 Option 7 for more details. Apply Now by Phone or Online at www.netfcu.org! S pokesm an Mag W inter 2012_layout 2/1/12 11:15 A M P age 20 Blood Bank Name Company Times/Gallons Name Company Times/Gallons Paul Amoroso Retired 46 5.75 Elizabeth Fula Retired 10 1.25 Bill Asaro, Jr. Catalano Bros. 17 2.125 David Gartland Manfi-Leasing/ Stop & Shop 51 6.375 Irving P. Balkman Retired 175 21.875 Gregg Gigg New Penn 38 4.75 Jeffrey Bamford New England Theatrical 18 2.25 Helen Giglio City of Everett 15 1.875 Alice Bavaro Retired 41 5.125 Edward Giglio General Public 15 1.875 Mary Bewig General Public 4 0.5 Robert Gregoire Capital Waste 31 3.875 John Blanchard Catalano Brothers 1 0.125 Natalie Griffin General Public 1 0.125 Brendan Blanchard General Public 1 0.125 Jason Hall General Public 2 0.25 Warren Boisvert Retired 40 5 John W. Hannon Retired 77 9.625 Pamela Boyden General Public 2 0.25 Bob Harty Retired 48 6 Leo Breen Retired 5 0.625 Don Haska General Public 5 0.625 Karen Burns General Public 18 2.25 Roger Hendrix Manfi-Leasing/Stop & Shop 35 4.375 Bob Burns Retired 97 12.125 Doug Henry Manfi- Leasing/Stop & Shop 62 7.75 Brendan Butler General Public 15 1.875 Kathy Hickey General Public 16 2 Anthony Caggiano DHL 15 1.875 Dennis Holland New England Theatrical 8 1 Jo Chaffee General Public 3 0.375 Richard Johnson New Penn Motor Express 1 0.125 Katie Christianson General Public 7 0.875 Charles Johnson Retired 35 4.375 Margaret C. Clark Retired 4 0.5 Laura Johnson UPS 23 2.875 Robert Cook Stop & Shop 1 0.125 Dan Kakleas New Penn Motor Express 47 5.875 Kris Crawford YRC, Inc. 20 2.5 William T. Kelley, Jr. United Liquor (Local 653) 38 4.75 Eric Dawler General Public 7 0.875 Gregory Kerwood UPS- Somerville 25 3.125 Joe Destasio Retired 64 8 James F. Kessler Manfi-Leasing/Stop & Shop 7 0.875 John M. Dillon Boston Globe 1 0.125 Jen Keyes General Public 5 0.625 Ian J. Dillon Boston Globe 1 0.125 Bill Kuttner General Public 19 2.375 Janna Donohue General Public 2 0.25 Paul Lacey YRC, Inc. 3 0.375 Michael Downey General Public 28 3.5 Kevin Lally Retired 78 9.75 Stephen Drago US Foodservice 57 7.125 Dave Langan Retired 155 19.375 Jessica Drago General Public 1 0.125 Joseph Lanza Retired 1 0.125 Mike Erelli YRC, Inc. 43 5.375 Joseph Laplante G.D. Matthews & Sons. Corp. 22 2.75 Thomas D. Farnkoff Retired 52 6.5 Patti Lapointe TeamstersCare 73 9.125 Doug Francey Atlantic Plant Maintenance 39 4.875 Kathryn E. MacDonald General Public 1 0.125 Dick Frank City of Cambridge -DPW 50 6.25 Bill MacDougall General Public 5 0.625 20 | The SPOKESMAN | WINTER 2012 | www.teamsterslocal25.com S pokesm an Mag W inter 2012_layout 2/1/12 11:15 A M P age 21 Times/Gallons Name Company Times/Gallons Name Company Jim MacInnis Xpedx 21 2.625 Karen Salvato NETFCU 31 3.875 Brian MacLeod Shaughnessy & Ahern 18 2.25 Philip Savoy, Jr. Coan, Inc. 45 5.625 Paul Mannix Joint Venture 2 0.25 Patrick Scarry General Public 4 0.5 E. Al Marcotte Retired 7 0.875 Joe Sciuto Retired 58 7.25 Bob McAllister Manfi-Leasing/Stop & Shop 125 15.625 Anthony Scopa Costa Fruit 4 0.5 Charlie McAskill Atlas-Glenmore 49 6.125 Paul Sharpe Retired 101 12.625 Tom McGarty New England Theatrical 14 1.75 T. Eddie Sheehan Retired 10 1.25 Wanda McGarty General Public 8 1 Drew Smith General Public 8 1 Michael McGrath US Foodservice 55 6.875 Dan Splaine Retired 140 17.5 Richard McMurtry UPS - Norwood 29 3.625 Ryan Sullivan General Public 4 0.5 Gail Michalski Alliance Express (Clerical) 25 3.125 F. Dan Sullivan Retired 12 1.5 Aaron Miller General Public 2 0.25 Tom Sullivan Global- Chelsea 58 7.25 Robert Monteforte UPS- Somerville 15 1.875 Thomas Sullivan Retired 3 0.375 Ronnie Moran Retired 136 17 Fred Sutera General Public 65 8.125 Tom Moskaluk Arlington Coal & Lumber 15 1.875 Annabelle Torino General Public 28 3.5 John J. Murphy Retired 182 22.75 Larry Tucker Retired 1 0.125 Tommy Nasson Global- Chelsea 109 13.625 Stephen Urguhart Retired 8 1 Roger Newcomb, Jr. M.S. Walker 12 1.5 Bobby Valdario DHL 2 0.25 Maureen K. O'Brien General Public 3 0.375 Charlie Vaughn Retired 49 6.125 John O'Connor Admiral Metals 22 2.75 Jack Ward Retired 126 15.75 Michael Pagliaro New Penn Motor Express 91 11.375 James W. Woods Retired 52 6.5 Peter Pappas Retired 9 1.125 Mallory Woods General Public 2 0.25 Joe Peluso Atlas-Glenmore 48 6 Edmund E. Petit, Jr. Retired 31 3.875 Edward Porter Manfi-Leasing/Stop & Shop 9 1.125 Christine Quinn General Public 4 0.5 John Quinn General Public 5 0.625 David Radochia, Jr. Boston Globe (Local 259) 3 0.375 Ron Raymond UPS-Chelmsford 51 6.375 Carol Rees General Public 2 0.25 Peter Rodliff Marr Rigging 1 0.125 Luis A. Rodriguez Capitol Waste 2 0.25 S pokesm an Mag W inter 2012_layout 2/1/12 11:15 A M P age 22 Events Calendar of January 2012 February 2012 March 2012 January 15 General Membership Meeting 10:00 a.m. Union Hall, 544 Main Street Charlestown, MA 02129 January 16 Martin Luther King Jr. Day January 28 Blood Bank 9:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M. Union Hall, 544 Main Street Charlestown, MA 02129 February 12 Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday February 14 Valentine’s Day James Riddle Hoffa’s Birthday February 19 General Membership Meeting 10:00 a.m. Union Hall, 544 Main Street Charlestown, MA 02129 February 20 President’s Day February 22 George Washington’s Birthday February 25 Blood Bank 9:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M. Union Hall, 544 Main Street Charlestown, MA 02129 March 11 Daylight Savings Time Begins March 17 St. Patrick’s Day March 18 General Membership Meeting 10:00 a.m. Union Hall, 544 Main Street Charlestown, MA 02129 March 24 Blood Bank 9:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M. Union Hall, 544 Main Street Charlestown, MA 02129 SAVE THE DATE: 22 | The SPOKESMAN | WINTER 2012 | www.teamsterslocal25.com 5th Annual Light Up The Night for Autism Gala – April 7, 2012 S pokesm an Mag W inter 2012_layout 2/1/12 11:15 A M P age 23 S pokesm an Mag W inter 2012_layout 2/1/12 11:15 A M P age 24 Stewards Spotlight Mike Bates ABC Moving Company, Somerville Michael Bates has been working at ABC Moving Company in Somerville, Mass. since 1993. In July of 1994 Bates helped to unionize ABC and since then he has been a member of Teamsters Local 82. (On January 1, 2012 Local 82 merged into Local 25.) Bates is the only steward for the 14 Teamsters on the list and enjoys his role as steward. “I have a civil relationship with management and I am not afraid to confront them when they are wrong,” Bates said. “I also have a good relationship with the members and they understand when I tell them they are wrong and not the company in certain situations.” Bates is really excited about becoming a member of Local 25. “We now have solid representation with Local 25, under the leadership of President O’Brien. I have known Sean my whole life and I know with him in charge we will become much stronger in the big buildings in Boston by stopping the nonunion companies from taking our work.” ABC Moving has been in business since 1982. It has contracts with Verizon, Fidelity Investments, many law firms, bio-tech companies and the big hospitals in Boston. “The company is doing well,” Bates said. “We are two years into a six-year contract and we want the company to remain busy so we can get an even share at the bargaining table in 2015.” Bates hails from a long line of union members. His uncle Mark Bates is the steward for Local 25 at Boston Sand and Gravel. His uncle Billy Riley is a member of the Local 25 Movie Division. His uncle Brian Bates is a member of Laborers Local 22 and his brother Shawn Bates was a member of the NHL Players Association as a professional hockey player for the Boston Bruins and New York Islanders. Ralph Gaskell Casey & Hayes Movers, South Boston Like his grandfather 50 years ago, Ralph Gaskell is a Teamster at Casey & Hayes Movers in South Boston, Massachusetts. He has been the Local 82—and now Local 25—steward since 2001 and has worked at Casey & Hayes for 24 years. 24 | The SPOKESMAN | WINTER 2012 | www.teamsterslocal25.com Gaskell says he deals with the usual issues as steward for his 22 coworkers. “It is never a perfect day as steward. I deal with seniority problems, pay-discrepancy concerns, split-shifting and eight-hour guarantee battles, but I usually resolve all problems before they make it to the formal grievance procedure,” Gaskell said. Casey & Hayes has been doing business since 1925 and keeps the Teamsters Local 25 members very busy. “We move everything from laboratories to library books,” Gaskell said. “We are constantly in and out of commercial buildings, colleges and universities, law firms and museums. The largest move I ever did was in 1988 at the law firm Ropes and Gray. We moved 15 floors in 20 days.” Gaskell is very pleased with his recent move into Local 25 from Local 82. “We now have more resources and the ability to chase the nonunion movers out of Boston. The leadership of Local 25, with President O’Brien at the helm, creates a better atmosphere and restores pride in the Local 82 membership. I am excited for the future.” Kenneth Healy Spry Moving and Storage Company, Woburn Ken Healy has been a Teamster since 1984 when he helped to unionize Global Van Lines. In May of 1990, Healy moved to Spry Moving and Storage Company, where he has worked ever since. Healy is in his third year as steward at Spry for his 16 fellow Teamsters. “I like being steward. I feel good when I can solve a problem for one of the guys,” Healy said. “I don’t like having to bang heads with the ownership about an issue, but that is my role as steward and I accept it, and the guys appreciate me fighting for them.” Healy is thrilled about the merger of Local 82 into Local 25. “I now feel empowered as a Teamster. We can finally stick up for ourselves and know that the leadership of Local 25 has our backs,” Healy said. “President O’Brien really impresses me with his vision for the future. The forecast with Local 25 looks good and promising.” Spry Moving and Storage does mostly commercial work in Boston, at the large hospitals like Mass General, and pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer and others. Spry also has a household division and archive division. S pokesm an Mag W inter 2012_layout 2/1/12 11:15 A M P age 25 “Spry is a family-owned business and they are generally fair to us,” Healy said. “But there is always room for us to get along better.” Ed Welch Global Experience Specialists, South Boston Ed “Edso” Welch works at the Boston Convention Center for Global Experience Specialists. He has worked in the Teamsters Trade Show Division since 1994 and has been a steward since 2010. “We have 24 Teamsters on the list, but when a big show comes to town we can put on up to 200 Teamsters to work,” Welch said. “In June 2011 we put 350 Teamsters to work at the National Association of Chain Drug Store convention. It was by far our biggest show at the new convention center.” The Teamster Trade Show members work very hard when they work a show. “We do it all, from setting up display booths, pipe and drape, podiums and risers, and also lay carpet in the 650,000-squarefoot facility,” Welch said. “Our contract is up in April 2012, and we are glad that Local 25 will be representing us at the table. The merger has brought a new sense of confidence to the Local 82 membership. Sean O’Brien is a great leader and we are all excited to go to battle with him,” Welch said. Kevin McNiff Freeman Companies, Braintree Kevin McNiff has been a Teamster since 1978. For 34 years, McNiff has worked in the Teamsters Trade Show Division in Boston at either the World Trade Center, Hynes Auditorium, and recently at the six-year-old MCCA Boston Convention and Exhibition Center in South Boston. Kevin has 64 Teamsters on the full-time list, but can have up to 400 members working at the same time when a big show comes to town. McNiff has served as steward since 2005 and truly likes the experience. “I take pleasure in being steward because I like the gratification I get when I can help one of our members with a workplace issue,” he said. “Most of the time I am interpreting the contract, dealing with seniority issues and fighting for maintenance of standards.” McNiff has no problem taking on the companies that disregard collective bargaining agreements. “I get irritated when I have to intervene when a company doesn’t respect the collective bargaining agreement that they signed,” McNiff said. “Some of these vendors come into our convention centers and try to skirt the contracts we have in place. My job is to protect our work and to stop them.” McNiff is looking forward to vast changes that promise to come with the merger of Local 82 into Local 25. “I am so excited to get the respect back that we lost in the past. There seems to be a rebirth in confidence in our membership as a result of the merger,” McNiff said. “We have been through a lot for the past 15 months and we are impressed with the direction that President O’Brien and Business Agent Tom Mari are taking us.” McNiff believes that there are many new organizing opportunities within the Trade Show Division that Local 25 could take advantage of. “The sky is the limit in organizing in this division. Many companies and vendors come into our convention halls and they don’t pay their workers fairly. Our members interact with them and we plan to help them join Teamsters Local 25,” McNiff said. Robert “Bob” Irvine Freeman Companies—Braintree Bob Irvine is a 46-year, second-generation Teamster who has worked in the Tradeshow Division since the mid-1960s. Irvine has seen the tradeshow industry evolve into big business. “I have witnessed the tradeshow industry really blossom from a small seasonal industry into big business with all of the bells and whistles,” Irvine said. “Back in the day we had to lug everything around, now the technology has changed for the better where we are able to use pallet trucks, scissor lifts and other ergonomic technology. The shows themselves are highly automated and are really more of a major production than just the pipe and drape shows of the past.” Tradeshows are in Irvine’s bloodline. His father, Tom Irvine, started in the Tradeshow Division in the 1940s and his brother Ron Irvine served for 50 years as a Teamster in the tradeshow industry. His son, Rob, is a member of the Local 25 Tradeshow Division as well. “There is now light at the end of the tunnel,” Irvine said of the recent merger of Local 82 into Local 25. “We were strong at one point, then we lost power. We are looking forward to the new leadership under President O’Brien.” www.teamsterslocal25.com | WINTER 2012 | The SPOKESMAN | 25 Pensioners S pokesm an Mag W inter 2012_layout 2/1/12 11:15 A M P age 26 Name Company Type Effective Date Robert W. Carney Paul J. Civetti John H. Connarton Brian G. Cox Richard A. Curley John M. Evans Robert J. Fitzpatrick Vericio V. Fontes Giovanni Gagliotta Ralph M. Giller Walter T. Hinkley Theodore W. Lampman Ronald R. Masterson Lawrence J. Milinazzo Walter M. Mills Ronald P. Mott Kevin A. Satterthwaite Tyrone C. Shauan Sr. Edward A. Shaw Peter Taslakian Clarence A. Turner Linvan C. Young Ernest J. Arseneau William E. Chambers John A. Crosby David M. Duggan William P. Dwyer Werner J. Fehmel Richard B. Lang Maureen A. McDonald Albert P. McKenney James P. O’Brien Carl R. Palanzi Kenneth J. Powers Sr. Jose M. Ribeiro Mary R. Rosati Ernest L. Spring Leslie L. Trotman Luther L. Washington Peter Yeanacopolis Leo W. Callahan Frank W. Colantonio John A. Connolly Robert D. Damigella Mary E. Dunn Ian R. Griffin David P. Hammond Ernie G. Karelas Howard A. Kaufman Paul E. Nardi, Jr. Daniel J. Newhall Robert A. Petit Karl M. Rasmussen Thomas A. Sarro Dennis Sayers William E. Stens Athanase C. Valentin Fred Ward, Jr. Robert W. Zachko, Jr. Aggregate Industries Lechmere Inc. J T Ryerson & Son Inc. U S Foodservice Inc. DHL Express U S Foodservice Inc. DHL Express (USA Inc.) Stop & Shop Supermarket Co. Costa Fruit & Produce Co. Central Artery Tunnel Project Nonantum Lumber Alliance Energy Corp. G A F Materials Corp. Costa Fruit & Produce Co. Logan 2000 Petroleum Heat & Power Co. Inc. Marr Scaffolding Co. Petroleum Heat & Power Co. Inc. Sharp Air Freight Service Inc. Harsco Infrastructure Americas Signal Delivery Service Inc. Purity Supreme Inc. Eastern Metal Mill Prod. Co. Consolidated Freightways Corp. U S Foodservice Inc. Special Movie Shows U S Foodservice Inc. Lily Truck Leasing Corp. Petroleum Heat & Power Co. Inc. DHL Express, (USA Inc.) Browing-Ferris Ind. Inc. Central Artery Tunnel Project DHL Express, (USA Inc.) DHL Express, (USA Inc.) James Ferrera & Sons Inc. Jordan Marsh Co. U S Foodservice Inc. United Parcel Serv. Inc. Buckley & Scott Whetton Inc. Sharp Air Freight Service Inc. Americold Logistics Millbrook Cold Storage Inc. Local 380 Merger The 357 Corp. DHL Express (USA Inc.) United Parcel Serv. Inc. Bird & Son Inc. DHL Express (USA Inc.) United Parcel Serv. Inc. Boston Sand & Gravel Co. DHL Express (USA Inc.) Manfi Leasing Corp. United Parcel Serv. Inc. DHL Express (USA Inc.) BFI/Allied Wast Ind. Inc. United Parcel Serv. Inc. Morton Shoe Stores Inc. A B F Freight System Inc. U S Foodservice Inc. Disability Pension Statutory Pension Special Regular Pension Disability Pension Disability Pension Year Special Service Plan C Disability Pension Statutory Pension Statutory Pension Statutory Pension Statutory Pension Regular Pension Statutory Pension Early Retirement Pension Regular Pension Statutory Pension Year Special Service Plan C Statutory Pension Statutory Pension Early Retirement Pension Statutory Pension Statutory Pension Statutory Pension Statutory Pension Early Retirement Pension Early Retirement Pension Disability Pension Statutory Pension Early Retirement Pension Disability Pension Early Retirement Pension Statutory Pension Statutory Pension Disability Pension Statutory Pension Statutory Pension Early Retirement Pension Statutory Pension Early Retirement Pension Statutory Pension Regular Pension Thirty Year Full Service Statutory Pension Statutory Pension Statutory Pension Early Retirement Pension Statutory Pension Disability Pension Regular Pension Regular Pension Disability Pension Early Retirement Pension Disability Pension Disability Pension Disability Pension Statutory Pension Statutory Pension Statutory Pension Disability Pension 09/2011 09/2011 07/2011 09/2011 07/2011 08/2011 08/2011 09/2011 09/2011 09/2011 09/2011 09/2011 09/2011 08/2011 09/2011 09/2011 09/2011 12/2010 09/2011 09/2011 09/2011 09/2011 10/2011 09/2011 10/2011 10/2011 10/2011 08/2011 10/2011 03/2010 08/2011 10/2011 10/2011 10/2011 10/2011 10/2011 10/2011 09/2011 10/2011 10/2011 11/2011 09/2011 11/2011 11/2011 11/2011 10/2011 11/2011 11/2011 09/2011 09/2011 11/2011 10/2011 11/2011 11/2011 10/2011 11/2011 11/2011 11/2011 11/2011 26 | The SPOKESMAN | WINTER 2012 | www.teamsterslocal25.com S pokesm an Mag W inter 2012_layout 2/1/12 11:15 A M P age 27 In Memoriam Name Company Name Company Neil Anderson Consolidated Freightways James F. Mason Gate Gourmet, Inc. Linn R. Aucoin Purtiy Supreme Louis R. McAllister Transit Services, Inc. Roland J. Austin Signal Delivery Service, Inc. Patrick J. McCue Boston Sand & Gravel Roy I. Baker G. H. Harnum, Inc. Hugh J. McDonald Twin Trucking Adele I. Bromberg DHL Express Thomas E. McLaughlin Austin Hastings Co., Inc. Charles H. Brooks, Jr. Robbie Fuels, Inc. Robert McLennon United Parcel Service Theresa Broussard First National Stores John M. McNamara Allied Waste Services Thomas W. Carleton Heating Oil Partners Jennie Mike Champion International Corp. Ethel E. Carr First National Stores Thomas R. Molloy Airco Distribution Gases Edwin R. Cassidy Ferrera & Sons Edward G. Murdock Airco Distribution Gases Henry E. Chandler L & R Truck Leasing, Inc. Paul J. Nevero The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company Harold Cleveland Tyler Co. Richard T. Nigro Dudley Fuel Company James F. Coppenrath G.S.P Recycling James M. O'Brien Browning-Ferris, Inc. Arthur Courchaine Boston & Taunton Trans. Co. Joseph Ognibeni Northern Terminals, Inc. Edward L. Cuddy Berman's Motor Express, Inc. Frances A. Penza Hoerner-Waldorf Corporation Edward F. Dillon G.T. Rodes, Inc. Dean S. Pevey Brewer Petroleum Service, Inc. James F. English Harso Infastructure Americas Robert E. Putnam Westwood Cartage, Inc. John A. Ferguson Brinks, Inc. Robert M. Qualtieri YRC, Inc. Robert Fitzgerald G.A. Climo & Son Samuel M. Ragusa Browning- Ferris, Inc. Vincent Giordano C. Pappas Co., Inc. Albert L. Riva Federal Warehouse, Inc. William J. Hartnett Texaco Refining & Marketing , Inc. Bertrand H. Roy Warehouse Transport, Inc. John R. Herbert ABF Freight System, Inc. Charles A. Rund Coan, Inc. Michael J. King The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company Robert James Sciarra 357 Corp. Thomas J. Loomis Lily Truck Leasing Corp. Pasquale Serio First National Stores Peter J. Loughlin DHL Express Walter H. Songin Keith Fulton & Sons, Inc. Richard F. Lynch Coan, Inc. Richard L. Snow Plymouth Rock Transportation James J. Stevens Atlas Personnel, Inc. Francis F. Thomas The Carter's Ink Company Mildred R. Toomey TeamstersCare Martin Vitkausas Bird, Inc. Paul W. Walsh Consolidated Freightways Norman Willwerth The Delivery Corporation John Yailaian Rush Delivery Service, Inc. www.teamsterslocal25.com | WINTER 2012 | The SPOKESMAN | 27 S pokesm an Mag W inter 2012_layout 2/1/12 11:15 A M P age 28 Retiree Chapter News 25 Teamsters Local 25 Retiree Chapter Joe Conti President Chuck Durfee Secretary-Treasurer Retiree News Note: There are three breakfast meetings a year held on the second Thursday of January, April and October. We had another rainy day for our breakfast meeting, but in spite of the weather, 150 members attended. President Joe Conti introduced Local 25 President Sean O’Brien to say a few words. O’Brien thanked the retirees for all their help and commitment while he was campaigning. He said that Toys for Tots started slow but with the efforts of Conti, we had a record collection. O’Brien also thanked Conti, Bill Grubbs, Kevin Lally and all those who helped. O’Brien said there is a lot going on in Local 25 today and thanked everyone in the audience for making the local what it is today. “We have what we have today—pensions, health and welfare, good wages—because of our prior members,” he said. He said Local 25 is growing and recently merged with Local 82. He talked about the Day Room and the Executive Board Room and that they will stay the same. He needs and appreciates the help of the Retiree Chapter. Conti read the names of the deceased members since the last meeting and held a moment of silence. Chuck Durfee read the financial report. A motion to accept was made by Paul Walsh and seconded by Kenny Burgess. Johnny B. thanked everyone for coming despite the bad weather. He talked about Suffolk Downs and said that the races will be on Monday, June 4. The price for the tickets and the lunch will be the same, $17. Richie Reardon was introduced and we talked about the credit union. He said that even with the slow year we have had, we are making loans and we have a great staff to handle your needs. Join the credit union! President Conti announced that we will have the Autism Gala on Saturday, April 7, 2012, at the InterContinental Hotel. Tickets cost $60 each. There will be a live auction. There is a custom build chopper being raffled and the tickets are $100 each. There will be food stations all around the room. Retirees that want to run for positions on the Executive Board can pick-up nomination papers at the April meeting. Anyone can run but the nominee must be a member in good standing for two full years running. Scholarship applications are available. To be eligible for grandchildren to receive retiree scholarship, you must up to date on dues. The blood bank date is Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012. Some of these people have given 180 pints. Jack Murphy is one of them. Conti thanked the rank and file for attending and thanked Café Sorelli for an excellent breakfast. He thanked the servers who served the breakfast: Frank Pagliaro, Tony Bruno, Tom Nasson, Bob Ricciardi, Dick Allen, Lenny Hagen, Jerry Bolton, Paul McNeiley and Paul Sharpe. Thanks to Joe Evans and Billy Briggs for handling the 50-50 raffle. The next breakfast meeting is April 12. The Teamster clock was won by Dan DiGiacomo. The four $25 prizes were won by: Mike Curley, Charles Knecht, Bill Walsh and Tom Bullen. John "Johnny B" Buonaugurio Vice President The next breakfast meeting is April 12. S pokesm an Mag W inter 2012_layout 2/1/12 11:15 A M P age c3 WELCOME ABOARD! Mourning a Big Loss John Boulten Walsh Richard Howe We lost our good friend Joe Cuggino. He died 10 days before his 97th birthday. Roy Herrick, Bobby Breau and Joe Cuggino started the Retiree Chapter in 1985. Herrick was the first President and Cuggino was the first Secretary-Treasurer. Cugino loved the Retiree Chapter and was a strong advocate for us. He was there for all our events through the years. He loved the Irish dinners and made us laugh wearing the funny hats. We saw him New Penn William S. Falasar Boston Herald John P. Gibney Stop and Shop Clarence F. Hattuck Jr 357 Corp. Louis LoGrippo P. Tavilla Airborne/DHL talking to everyone and making us smile. We looked Ronald P. Mott for him at all our breakfast meetings. He didn’t Fras Clew Mor make the last one. He will be greatly missed. Joe Thomas V. Nasson President O’Brien offered the Teamsters’ van for the funeral at the family’s request. President Conti drove the van and delivered the Bible to the family. The van was the second vehicle behind the hearse. The family was grateful to have the van in the procession. There was a sticker attached to his casket that said, “Proud to be an American, Proud to be a Teamster.” Kevin Lally Trustee Joseph E. Meoli at Suffolk Downs “at the races,” and he would enjoy Cuggino was truly a “Teamsters’ Teamster.” Bill Burpee Recording-Secretary Global Oil John C. O’Reilly Herb Andrews Trustee ABF Michael D. Rae Airborne/DHL Theodore Salviti Manfi/Stop and Shop Craig B. Wilcox Manfi/Stop and Shop Dan Splaine Trustee www.teamsterslocal25.com | WINTER 2012 | The SPOKESMAN | 29 S pokesm an Mag W inter 2012_layout 2/1/12 11:13 A M P age c4 The Spokesman The Spokesman (USPS 613-400) is published by Teamsters Local 25, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, 544 Main Street, Boston, MA 02129-1113. Telephone (617) 241-8825. Periodicals Class Postage Paid at Boston, MA POSTMASTER PLEASE SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO: TEAMSTERS UNION LOCAL 25 THE SPOKESMAN Periodicals POSTAGE PAID Boston, MA
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