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LEAD FOR NEWSLETTER

            We would like to thank you for all that you have allowed us to accomplish doing this APWA campaign.  You have moved mountains and have accomplished what no one believed possible by your support of the APWA.  If anyone believes that UPS would have the pension today without what you did over the previous three years; they are foolish.

            You have made UPS’ers all over the country believe that together that together we can accomplish anything we are willing to work to achieve.  While we have accomplished much there is so much more left to do.  We have been asked by many people to continue the effort so that we may, one day, have the union that we all deserve.

           We have decided that we are willing to do this under one condition.  We must have the financing to accomplish our goals.  We strongly feel that the only reason that we did not accomplish our goal last campaign was due to the lack of financing.  As we told everyone last campaign if everyone would only contribute $10.00 it would be more than enough to finance a successful campaign.  This is such a small amount that people just did not believe this would be enough.  Believe us, it will.  As always there are still Founding Charter Memberships available at $150.00 each for those of you that want to have the ability to govern the APWA.  This will assure that the APWA will never fall into the cesspool the IBT is.

            If we receive the financing we will continue the campaign; if we do not we will not.  Each Founding Charter Member will receive a quarterly statement of what we have taken in.  We must get the freight people involved in the package side.  They have seen first hand how the company and the Teamsters are in bed with each other.  In addition we need the following.

Our spouses to have a pension should they precede us.

Lump sum payouts with a monthly pension.

A pension raise, $3,000.00 per month may have been adequate11 years ago.  It is NOT adequate TODAY.  It is a token insult.

Quality insurance that we are already paying for but not receiving.

A union that does not sell us out to the company.

A union that is controlled by its membership.

Real pension protection for our friends that have previously retired.

            There is so much that we can do if we choose to do so.  It is going to take your help.  You must talk to your co-workers and tell them how you feel.  You must be pro-active in the financial portion of the APWA.  You must help when called upon.  Again thank you for what you have accomplished.  Let’s finish the job now!

2009 APWA CAMPAIGN

Now that we UPSers have settled into our new contract with the IBT and our new single-employer pension fund, many of you may be wondering what is happening with the APWA. Are we still around, planning anything in the future? The answer to these questions is, yes. An organization that began from ground-zero just a few short years ago, today has an infrastructure consisting of thousands of members, located in all 50 states, and all of them are standing by to re-launch a new campaign to replace the Teamsters as the bargaining agent at UPS one year from now.

But why? Shouldn’t we be content with our new contract and our new single-employer pension fund? To be sure, the new fund is a step forward, but it is hardly a finished work and language in the new fund can be very deceiving, leaves our pensions in serious financial peril should the Central States Fund ultimately collapse. UPS’s promise to make up the difference is only good for the life of this contract—nothing further.   

Make no mistake about it, the company and the IBT are very much in bed together and there is really no one out there who is looking out for us. The only reason we have this new fund at all is because of the stand so many took by joining the APWA and/or supporting its’ first campaign. And the only reason UPS and the IBT hammered out this new contract—an unprecedented full year in advance—was to shut down our card signing program prior to our being able to force a nationwide vote. But there is much more to be done and in 2009 we intend to hit the ground running in all 50 states. We also have a new strategy that begins by training and equipping numerous teams to hold meetings and collect cards throughout the country. With the infrastructure we built previously, and our new strategy, we are confident we can swiftly and efficiently replace the Teamsters entirely.

Wouldn’t it be enough to simply force the Teamsters into making necessary changes, but retain them as our bargaining agent?

No. UPS’ers deserve a union they can believe in and know that it is truly looking out for them. Frankly, any union that has to be “forced” into doing what it should cannot be trusted to maintain anything gained if the leverage (the APWA) is gone. In no time at all, we will be right back to having a union that bullies us more so than our company. The only way to guarantee that we will always have a bargaining agent we can trust is to simply change unions, embracing one that is created by UPS’ers, for UPS’ers, and nothing but UPS’ers. In addition, some of the most critical changes we seek cannot be legally accomplished without a change in bargaining agents. Principle among them is to obtain ownership of the new single-employer fund from the IBT and install the “it’s your money” policies spelled out in the APWA constitution. Other notable goals are:

·         To remove the out-clause language currently included in the new fund and provide UPS’ers a retirement benefit they can count on for life, not just until age 65.

·         To override state laws across the country and provide all UPS’ers their

·         God-given “right to work” regardless of union membership.

·         To reduce dues to 50% of what the IBT currently charges, a figure that cannot be raised without majority approval garnered by a nationwide vote.

·         To negotiate meaningful hours control based on daily caps rather than the current 9-5 shell-game currently employed by the IBT.

·         To end the company’s growing reliance on subcontractors moving freight that should be handled by our own feeder drivers.

·         To provide meaningful help with grievances and to do so in a timely manner.

·         To once and for all, provide definitive language that provides drivers the flexibility they need and want regarding when and how much break to take.

·         And finally, to have a targeted, responsive union that is defined by the needs and wishes of UPSers rather than a clumsy, inefficient conglomerate, defined by the wishes and needs of outside interests.

To be sure, this cause is a noble one, but this campaign, like any, takes money. For that, we have a new strategy as well. Beginning now, we are asking every hourly employee who would like to see these badly needed changes become a reality, to make a painless, one-time contribution of just $10.00. That’s it. Just ten dollars. One time. While that may not seem like much of a contribution, multiplied nationwide times the thousands of UPSers affected by these issues,  we will easily have all the money we need to launch this new campaign and run it to a successful end. In the coming days you are likely to hear criticisms about the APWA, leveled against us by the IBT, suggesting that their financial strength is much stronger than ours. Just remember where they get that money. And ask yourself how much of it comes back to you in terms of service and trust. In contrast, the APWA will be positioned to accomplish the most with the least amount of burden upon you, but our failure to secure the contributions will force us to abort these plans.

            Additionally, APWA founders have pledged to do a better job of keeping supporters up to date on all that is happening across the country by means of our website, and regular newsletters, delivered on a timely basis, the first Monday of each month. You can access this vital link to us by either visiting the website at www.parcelworkers.com each month, or by selecting to have it delivered straight to your e-mail inbox. Either way, there is no cost involved.

            In closing, I would ask you to carefully consider the many times the company and the Teamsters have demonstrated they are more interested in the money you represent than in you. Then ask yourself if that makes you or your family feel secure. If not, I urge you to join with me in making the ten dollar contribution, signing an APWA card when they come out, and then boldly stepping up to a ballot box and placing an X next to our union, a union created by us and for us, a union we can finally believe in. Contributions can be via the website itself or by checks. If check is preferred, it should be made out to APWA and sent to:

APWA
P.O. Box 58427
Raleigh, NC 27658

FREIGHT NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 2008

             We continue to work with the freight side of UPS.  As of today, there are many smaller terminals that would go with us, but as everyone realizes, it takes money to run a union and we must find a major terminal that is interested in order to continue the Freight effort. To date, we have not, nor will we ever, turn down a terminal for its size. But the fact remains it does take money to represent people.

            We also continue working with Harrisburg.  By now, this facility and Mickey Kelly are realizing UPS is going to force the IBT down their throats like it or not.  We do not believe anyone much cares for the position they are in today, but unfortunately, Mickey can no longer help the Freight people as he once did and would do again if he were still able.

            Likewise, we continue to receive requests for help from terminals that have already gone Teamster.  They fine folks now recognize the promises given them by the IBT were nothing more than hot air. It doesn’t take people long these days to figure out the bull the Teamsters are feeding the Freight side is just that; bull.

We are also in the midst of restarting the Package campaign because people in that camp now understand they too were fed a lot of lies and half-truths. For the first time in history, the IBT has agreed to allow subcontractors access to UPS yards all year long.  What does that say about the security of your feeder job? UPS and the IBT have also carefully worded their “best contract ever,” leading package people to believe their pensions are guaranteed for the entirety of their lives. It is not. The pension language clearly states it is only good “until age 65 or for the life of the contract.”  And does anyone really believe UPS will extend this clause at the end of this contract?  If they were planning to do so, why would they have included this language at all? UPS and the IBT also deceived the Package retirees.  These former workers no longer enjoy any pension protections at all, while UPS has made certain IBT officials will have all the guarantees they need for life.  A two-tier insurance system in this contract also provides benefits to some UPS package people that are vastly superior to what others are receiving. And why is the company supplying better insurance than your union, anyway? Is this really the kind of organization you want protecting you?

Here is the test: If the Teamsters are such an asset, why has their membership plummeted from 4.7 million in 1992 to less than 1 million today? That statistic alone should generate many questions, and for answers, we suggest asking those former Consolidated Freightway drivers (who now work with you) why they think the mighty Teamsters stood idly by, watching as CF diverted its freight to Con Way.  Moreover, ask them why the mighty Teamsters have never tried to organize Con Way?

            The fact of the matter is we have the very best people on the Freight side. Unfortunately, those who originally asked that we help you have all gone Teamster themselves. They just regret it, and now the choice is yours. To be sure, the APWA wants to help you avoid the cesspool that others have fallen into, and we can help you. If you do not want our help, however, we will certainly not hinder. Just understand that if you want our help, today is the day you must stand up and request it.

Throwing Grandpa Under the Bus

          Would you do it?  Would you really throw Grandpa under the bus?  That is what a yes vote for the proposed contract/pension buyout is doing.  Are you going to help UPS and the IBT throw somebody’s Grandpa under the bus?

           Most of the UPS retiree’s are in fact someone’s Grandpa.  They came to work at UPS as vigorous young people and gave 30 years or more to the Brown Machine.  Most of them came to work when there was NO national UPS coverage of the US.  With the sweat of their brow and sacrifice of large measures of their lives away from their loved one’s they help create the global entity that UPS is today.  They retired expecting to live the rest of their lives in relative security as a reward for their dedicated service.

           Now it’s inconvenient for UPS to remember them any longer.  They have become a liability.  UPS is going to throw some chips on the table and walk away from its’ people.  UPS is going to leave the balance of Grandpa’s life to a group, Central States and the Teamsters, which has twice now had to be bailed out with a huge infusion of cash.  And all they need for you to do to close the deal is vote yes on the contract.

           Well, that’s not my problem you might say.  Really?  Here’s a thought for you to consider; if UPS, Teamsters and Central States will throw Grandpa under the bus what do you think they’ll do to you?  And before you shrug your shoulders and walk away from an uncomfortable topic consider this.  If you retire with a 30 and out pension you’re going to get to enjoy stability perhaps only till you’re 65.  At that point UPS GIVES YOU UP Grandpa to the dynamic money sucking duo of Central States and the Teamsters Union.  And you’ll be right where the current crop of Grandpa’s are.  SCREWED T O THE MAX!

           But I will not qualify for a 30 and out pension since I’m so young you say?  Well there’s something for everyone in the contract/buyout/screw everyone deal.  You my friend are privileged to work till your NORMAL RETIREMENT AGE OF 65.  What’s so normal about that?  Most of you in this situation will never make it to NORMAL RETIREMENT AGE!  Your knees will give out; your shoulders will quit, your back will cave in; and you’ll experience the joy of percentage penalties for not making it till NORMAL RETIREMENT AGE.

           There is truly something for every age group and special interest group in this contract/buyout.  The current retiree’s are immediately abandoned.  The 30 and out group will be shortly abandoned. The younger workers are being manipulated for their youthful denial that old age is coming to them.  Oh, and there are three other groups we haven’t mentioned yet.

           UPS avoids its’ civil liability to their retiree’s.  Central States gets and infusion of cash which will allow it avoid going into true default for a limited time.  Teamsters get to brag that they’ve saved the day and Hoffa JUNIOR gets to keep his job and retirement package.  What a deal.  You take it in the shorts and the big shots take it to the golf course to brag about what geniuses they are.

           But this allows me to retire when I’m 50 with a 30 and out package you say?  Are you sure?  What will you do for insurance till you turn 55?  Did you fail to notice that you cannot have insurance till you’re 55.  I guess that means that there is a 30 and out pension IF you’re 55.  Would you really risk everything you’ve worked for in a gamble that you or your spouse won’t have any major medical problems till you’re 55 by retiring early? 

           Have you noticed that people who will never have to live under this pension are going to vote on the rest of YOUR life?  Why should anyone who is from outside the Central States Plan be allowed to decide that this is a good move for you and your family?

It’s October 01 & YOU’VE JUST BEEN “DONE”

           When we announced we would create a single employer pension plan for UPS employees we heard it said that:
          It is not possible to exit a multi-employer pension plan.
          It is not possible to go from a multi-employer pension plan to a single employer plan.
          UPS will never pay the money necessary to leave the Central States Plan unless Hell freezes over.
          Well guess what, ice skates are being handed out in Hell today with the announcement that UPS will pay $6.1 BILLION dollars to exit a multi-employer plan and go to a single employer plan.

           When we announced that Hoffa would “SELL YOU TO UPS LIKE A SLAB OF BEEF at the supermarket” we heard people say that they could trust Hoffa to never give them up to the company.
          Well guess what, YOU’VE JUST BEEN GIVEN UP to the company.
          The only thing open to discussion when we made that statement was the amount of the selling price.  Now we know.

           Question: What do you think Hoffa had to give UPS to get $6.1 BILLION?
           Question: Do you think that whatever it was will impact Hoffa or any of his pony crowd?           Question: Do you think that the common worker will pay the price in order for Hoffa to keep his “anointed” position?
           Question: Do you think your current bargaining agent, teamsters, will have any bargaining clout now that they no longer hold the big pie pension plan? 
           Question: Do you remember those years upon years and contracts upon contracts where we were pounded with the idea that the very existence of the teamsters depended on keeping control of that pension money?

ANSWER-HOFFA’S DERRIER HAS BEEN SAVED AND YOURS HAS JUST BEEN “DONE”.  KY anyone?