Today's Teamster News 02.03.11

The Ruinous Fiscal Impact of Big Banks  New York Times   ...Public deficits and debt relative to gross domestic product have ballooned in the last three years for one simple reason – the big banks at the heart of our financial system blew themselves up...
Energy Firms Aided by U.S. Find Backers  New York Times   ...In late 2009, the federal government gave $151 million in grants to advance 37 clean energy ideas deemed too radical or too preliminary to attract much private financing...
Foreclosed Homeowners Go to Court on Their Own  New York Times   ...Now many defaults are prompted by stretches of unemployment...
Teamsters president Hoffa to kick off campaign at new United  IBT  ...Hoffa will join union members at Continental Airlines to help kick off a campaign to organize fleet service workers and ramp workers at the newly merged Continental/United...
USA 3000 Pilots Withdraw from Voluntary ASAP  PRNewswire   ...pilots, represented by the Airline Professionals Association (APA) Teamsters Local 1224 announced their decision to withdraw from the voluntary Aviation Safety Action Program...
Probation employees, county at impasse  (Local 856)  The Ukiah Daily Journal   ...County negotiators declared an impasse with the union that represents its probation officers and juvenile justice counselors...
Corrections officer says colleague's murder is no surprise (Local 117)  MyNorthwest.com   ...At Governor Gregoire's request, outside eyes will scrutinize our state's prison system following the brutal killing of a guard in Monroe...
Unions launch media ad blitz to protest cuts  The Times Herald-Record   ...The Sullivan County PBA ran a "report card" in Tuesday's Sullivan County Democrat showing each legislator's picture next to boxes marked "no" and "yes"...
UPS Eyes More Success  GPB   ...Atlanta-based shipping giant United Parcel Service says it plans to turn last year’s success into record earnings per share in 2011...
UPS Capital Opens Colombia, Peru Offices   Global Atlanta   ...UPS Capital, which provides loans to help companies finance global trade and factory expansions, has opened offices in Bogota, Colombia, and Lima, Peru...
Snow slowing shipping via UPS and FedEx  cfnews13.com   ...UPS and FedEx both rely heavily on airplanes to move their packages...
China's railways lead the world in speed, size, but services lag far behind   CP   ...the world's biggest annual migration involving 230 million people... highlights the wide gap between showcase Chinese infrastructure and the often abysmal services available to the public...
Unions expect Florida governor to get his way on pensions  Sun-Sentinel   ...Police officers, teachers and government workers across Florida had harsh words Wednesday for Gov. Rick Scott's plan to have public employees contribute toward their pensions...
Calif. lawmakers promote clean energy standards  San Francisco Chronicle   ...The California Legislature's Democratic leaders on Wednesday unveiled a package of proposed laws they said will position the state as the national leader in developing clean energy alternatives and green jobs...
Questions Arise About Study Used to Justify 24 Hour Restart Change  truckinginfo.com   ...American Trucking Associations ... plans to take issue with the agency's use of these studies...
FMCSA presses forward with EOBR mandate for all trucks  Land Line Magazine   ...All truckers subject to the hours-of-service regulations are targeted by a proposal by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to mandate electronic on-board recorders in all trucks...

Today's Teamster News 12.06.10

Foreclosures paperwork miscues piling up  Denver Post   ..."We are not in default and they do not have authorization to sell our house," a frustrated Wendy Diers said...
Amex chief calls for jobs task force  FT.com   ...Ken Chenault, the chief executive of American Express, has called for an alliance of business leaders and politicians to find concrete ways to create millions of jobs in the US and kick-start the anaemic economic recovery...
France Finds Continental Guilty in Crash of Concorde  New York Times   ...A French judge ruled on Monday that Continental Airlines and one of its mechanics were guilty of involuntary homicide for their role in the 2000 crash of an Air France Concorde jet that killed 113 people...
Bill to outlaw wage theft is sent to N.Y. Gov. Patterson  New York Daily News   ..."This groundbreaking legislation puts New York at the top of the list in terms of labor protection laws," said Andrew Friedman of Make the Road New York...
Kenny Perdue: Public safety workers deserve a voice (opinion)  Charleston Gazette ...today in many states, firefighters and police officers are still told to be seen, not heard ...
Kasich: Provisions force nurses, others to unionize  Dayton Daily News ...Republican John Kasich said Friday that he would rescind two executive orders signed by Gov. Ted Strickland that authorized home- health care and day-care workers to unionize...

Today's Teamster News 11.30.10

FedEx closing area facility, eliminating 222 jobs   The Pulse-Journal   ...Closing the (Ohio) facility is part of a national realignment of FedEx Freight to integrate FedEx National LTL... Teamsters call for dismissal of ABF lawsuit about YRC concessions  IBT
Teamsters, Continental Reach Tentative Agreement For Fleet Service Workers  IBT
Amid Deficit Fears, Obama Freezes Pay  New York Times
NJ must pay $271M for killing tunnel Associated Press ... New Jersey owes the federal government more than $271 million after canceling a rail tunnel connecting the state with New York...
Holder Says U.S. Is Conducting `Very Serious' Investigation of Wall Street  Bloomberg ...U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder confirmed today that the Justice Department is conducting a criminal investigation related to trading on Wall Street...
Food Banks Bracing for End of Extended Unemployment Benefits  Huffington Post

Tentative agreement for Continental, Teamsters

This just in: The Teamsters and United Continental Holdings (the new parent of Continental and United airlines) reached agreement on a first contract that includes job security language and four pay hikes over the next 2-1/2 years for Continental fleet service workers. The contract, if ratified, will cover 7,600 new Teamsters who perform essential work at airports, including handling baggage, moving cargo and directing jets to the terminal gates.

Continental's fleet service workers voted overwhelmingly to join the Teamsters on Feb. 12 this year.

General President Hoffa called it a solid agreement that sets the union up well for the merger process. Gary Welch, a 14-year fleet service worker based in Houston, served on the Teamsters Negotiating Committee. He said achieving a good first contract after five months is "impressive and unusual."

According to the IBT, the 30-month contract is retroactive to July 1, 2010. It includes 10.5 percent in guaranteed raises compounded over the life of the contract, strong job-security language, profit sharing, shift-dirrectial pay, longevity premium increases ang better displacement and grievance procedures.