Public, Professional & Office-Clerical Employees and Drivers
14675 Interurban Ave S. Ste 305, Tukwila, WA 98168 ● 206-441-0763 ● 877-441-0763
Columbus Day
The offices will be closed on Monday, October 13th, 2008 in observance of Columbus Day. The offices will re-open on Tuesday, October 14th, 2008 at 8:00AM.
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Oak Harbor Freight Lines - Health Insurance Information 10/10/08 IMPORTANT
The following information is for purposes of assisting
you with questions you may have about your health care insurance under the Washington Teamsters Welfare Trust.
click here to read the information flyer
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Oak Harbor Freight Lines Strike Assistance 10/06/08 UPDATE
On Monday September 22, 2008, 600 Oak Harbor Freight Lines workers Oregon, Washington and Idaho were forced to strike in protest of Oak Harbor's violations of America's Labor Laws, as well as hostile efforts by company representatives to intimidate workers.
Rather than correcting these violations by negotiating with its employees' representatives in good faith, Oak Harbor's owners have hired a notorious strike breaking anti-union law firm and imported teams of professional strikebreakers to coerce and scare loyal long-time employees.
Oak Harbor employees, through their Union, have filed Unfair Labor Practice Charges with the National Labor Relations Board alleging Oak Harbor engaged in "bad faith bargaining". Unfortunately, the Board is in no hurry and is no ally to the workers.
The men and women on the strike line need your support to keep the fight going. Therefore, we are requesting monetary aid for our Brothers and Sisters in need. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. All money will go directly to strikers. Please make checks payable to Joint Council No. 28 OHFL Membership Assistance.
Thank you for your support.
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Oak Harbor Out-of-Work Benefits 10/3/08 UPDATE
Please be advised that the International Brotherhood of Teamsters has shipped Out-of-Work Benefit checks by UPS and should arrive at your Local Union on Monday, October 6th, 2008.
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Oak Harbor Freight Lines transports Gap Merchandise
How unethical is the Gap? Child Labor? Hurting Seniors?
Over 600 Teamsters in Washington and Oregon are currently engaged in an unfair labor practice strike against Oak Harbor Freight - the sole freight company for the Gap stores on the West Coast. In an attempt to break the strike, Oak Harbor has hired a large number of professional scabs and thug security guards.
The Gap, which owns Banana Republic and Old Navy, claims to be socially responsible. So why is it
outsourcing to unethical contractors? Last October, news broke that some Gap clothes were being made in a sweatshop in India by 10 to 13 years old in conditions "close to slavery".
Now the company that transports Gap merchandise - Oak Harbor Freight Lines - had provoked an unfair labor practice strike by violating federal law. Gap's shipping company also wants to eliminate retiree's health insurance, freeze employees pensions, and slash sick leave.
Gap contractors shouldn't be hurting kids in India or the elderly in America. Tell the Gap it needs to live up to its ethical standards and make its contractors do the same.
TELL THE GAP: STOP OUTSOURCING YOUR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
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Oak Harbor Freight Lines Misleads Customers 10/2/08
It has come to our attention that some Oak Harbor representatives are telling their customers the Freight Lines strike is over. IT IS NOT. The Teamsters continue picketing Oak Harbor Freight Lines' trucks in California, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. read more
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Oak Harbor News Update 10/2/08
The Company has notified the Local Unions involved in the picketing that paychecks will be available at the terminals. We have declined their invitation to cross our own lines in order to get our checks, Therefore, the checks will be mailed to your last address on record at the Company. Please look at your previous check stubs to verify correct address. If not correct, please let us know so we can pass along the correct information to the Company.
In other news, it has been confirmed that your health benefit eligibility will continue through the end of November.
Sad news, current retirees will see a significant increase in their monthly portion of their health care coverage as of January, 2009.
The spirits are high on the line. The Company is hurting. Rumor has it they only produced 10% of number of freight bills normally produced prior to the strike.
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Shop Steward & Member Training 2008
On September 27th, 2008, the Local Conducted another of its very popular Shop Steward & Member Training Seminars. After the welcome and introductions by Local 763 Secretary-Treasurer, David Grage, the seminar was opened by Al Hobart, International Vice-President and President of Joint Council No. 28, who gave a talk on the current political situation, the close race for Governor and what it all means to working women and men in the Teamsters Union.
The instructors for this seminar were Sally Payne, Associate Director and Western Region Coordinator, IBT Department of Training and Development who presented a class in "Understanding Differences, a look at how our differences make us strong" and Gary Hattal, Commissioner, Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, who presented classes on "Perception and Working Styles" and "General Conflict and Communication". These classes were very informative with fun interaction with others in attendance.
An Italian lunch was followed by drawings for door prizes. The afternoon session ended with a promise to have the instructors back for future training sessions.
These seminars are just one of the ways that the Local tries to educate the stewards and members in the skills they need to possess in today's workplace. We look forward to seeing you at our next training session.
click here for photos of the seminar
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Highline School District 9/23/08
We are pleased to announce the ratification of the Highline Public Schools contract for the Instructional and Administrative Support Employees. On September 22, 2008, the contract was ratified by 79% voter approval. The new contract covers the time frame of September 1, 2008 through August 31, 2012.
We would like to thank those members of the Bargaining Committee that worked so hard to bring back a proposal that met the needs of the bargaining unit. They are as follows; Rose Clark, David Cremeens, Betty Albright, Laura Butler, Alita White, Patty Zimmerman, and Vanessa Wheatley. The negotiations were led by Business Agent Evelyn Gradilla and assisted by Business Agent Jason Powell.
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BREAKING NEWS 9/23/08
Federal Labor Law Violations Provoke Teamster Strike at Oak Harbor
Trucking Company Refuses to Bargain in Good Faith.
(Seattle) - Teamsters at Oak Harbor Freight Lines in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho walked off the job last night in response to hostile efforts by company representatives to bully and intimidate workers.
Oak Harbor Freight Lines, one of the largest trucking companies on the West Coast, provides time sensitive delivery services to come of the largest companies and government agencies in the country including the Gap, Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI), Safeway, Siemens, Georgia Pacific, McKesson, Owens & Minor, JC Penny, Honda, GM & Chrysler Parts, Urban Outfitters, Whirlpool, and the State of Washington.
"The last thing we want is a strike". said Al Hobart, Teamsters Vice President and Teamster Joint Council 28 President. "We understand that service disruptions during the peak shipping season and holiday rush hurt everyone. Oak Harbor's owners just have not left us with any alternative. The company seems to be more interested in violating the law than protecting the interests of its customers."
Union officials report the National Labor Relations Board is investigating several labor law violations committed by the company including coercing and threatening employees, as well as making unlawful changes to working conditions.
"The bargaining position taken by the company made this strike unavoidable," said Tyson Johnson, International Vice President and Freight Division Director. "Oak Harbor's customers will likely experience service disruptions soon."
Founded in 1903, The International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.
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BREAKING NEWS 9/22/08
Teamsters Picket Auburn Freight Company in Auburn
Auburn, Wash.- Picketers are carrying Teamsters strike signs outside the Oak Harbor Freight terminal in Auburn... click here to continue.
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Battle in Seattle - Teamsters and Turtles Together Again
Support Showing of "Battle In Seattle"
In November 1999, five days rocked the world as tens of thousands of union members, environmentalist and others took to the streets of Seattle in protest of the World Trade Organization's Ministerial Meeting.
Teamster members across the country are encouraged to relive the "Spirit of Seattle" by showing their support for this movie and the message it can deliver to the rest of America. This film embodies an historic moment, when labor union and broad cross-section of grassroots advocates stood together to derail a devastating plan to expand the WTO's reign of corporate globalization.
So-called globalization had exported thousands of jobs to the lowest bidding countries and left many developing nations poisoned and impoverished. Multinational corporations that found environmental laws costly in the U.S. simply moved offshore where no such rules existed. Allowing China into the WTO was the final straw. Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa knew that China, with its forced labor camps, unregulated child labor and history of putting down labor rights, would only steal more American jobs and damage the U.S. economy.
But in the boom times of the Internet Revolution, the country as a whole was indifferent to the issue of free trade and many misunderstood the damage multinational corporations, operating beyond any one government's control, could do to the nations of the world.
Seattle changed that.
"Teamsters and Turtles" became the rallying cry as labor and environmentalist, world poverty advocates and peace demonstrators came together to fight a common enemy. The event captured headlines, and alerted the world to an unrecognized global economic power structure.
Battle in Seattle opens September 19 in select cities.
If the opening theatres are packed for the film's first two weeks, it will get a national distribution - turning on a new generation to the power of the Seattle Spirit.
Click here for more information.
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Congratulations to Bus Driver Don Haney
Kent School District Bus Driver, Don Haney, won this year's state Road-eo competition for school bus drivers and finished third in the international competition, which was held in Calgary, Canada.
click here to read an article on Don Haney.
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Help Your Brothers And Sisters Affected by Hurricanes' Wrath
Thousands in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and Georgia have been displaced by hurricanes Ike and Gustav. Victims include a number of Teamster members and their families who need your help.
Please help your brothers and sisters in need by sending tax-deductible contributions to:
Disaster Relief Fund
c/o International Brotherhood of Teamsters
25 Louisiana Ave NW
Washington, D.C. 20001
Hurricane Gustav was a category 2 storm that caused serious damage along the eastern Gulf Coast earlier this month. The storm claimed at least 10 lives and left nearly 100,000 residents are without power. More than 2 million people evacuated their homes to escape the storm's path.
Hurricane Ike struck the Texas Coast with 110 mph winds. The storm devastated Galveston and many coastal
communities, then cut through the Lone Start state dumping flooding rain across the Midwest.
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Shop Steward Training Workshop 9/27/2008
Local 763 will be conducting Shop Steward Training Workshop on Saturday, September 27th, 2008. The topic for this seminar is "Effective Handling of Conflict in the Workplace". The workshop will be held at the Teamsters Building located at 14675 Interurban Ave S. in Tukwila. This training is part of a continuing series of workshops that we have planned. The instructors are made up from guest speakers, 763 staff members and representatives from the various departments of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT).
The training is open to all Shop Stewards, any member who would like to become a Shop Steward or any member that would just like to learn more about our Teamsters Union and shop floor representation. There are a great many topics and laws that will be discussed in these sessions. Topics such as labor and contractual law, the negotiating process, the grievance and arbitration process, history, current trends, medical issues, and many more subjects will be presented at these sessions.
If you are planning to attend this workshop, please contact Linda Baker at (206) 441-0763 or email to l.baker@teamsters763.org so that we can plan accordingly. Registration will be at 8:30AM and the workshop will end at 3:30PM. Will will be providing snacks, beverages and lunch.
Please RSVP no later than September 23rd, 2008.
We look forward to seeing you there.
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The James R. Hoffa Memorial Scholarship Fund
The James R. Hoffa Memorial Scholarship Fund is please to announce the 2008 Essay Contest. The contest will commence July 1st, 2008, with a deadline date of September 30th, 2008.
In November 1999, the General Executive Board passed a resolution to create an independent, not-for-profit scholarship fund dedicated to the memory of the revered former General President, James R. Hoffa. Since it's creation, The James R. Hoffa Memorial Scholarship Fund has helped hundreds of Teamster children and grandchildren finance their education. The total amount awarded to students last year was $400,000.
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General Membership Meeting
The next General Membership meeting will be held on November 19th, 2008 @ 7:00 P.M. in the Auditorium at the
Teamsters Building
14675 Interurban Ave S.
Tukwila, WA 98168
Please make every effort to attend!
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Reminder from the Dues Office
Keep your dues current. Dues need to be posted on the last day of the month or will be considered delinquent. Also, we need to be notified of any change of mailing address by calling 206-441-0763. Employers typically don’t pass that information on to us. If you leave employment, contact the Local to request a withdrawal card.