Welcome to Teamsters Local Union #252

Coke returns to work. Negotiations resume Wednesday September 1 and Thursday September 2.

500 Western Washington Coke employees who went on strike last Monday will return to work unconditionally in a gesture that demonstrates their willingness to bargain a fair and equitable contract in good faith. Negotiations between the Washington Teamsters United and Coke are set to resume this Wednesday and Thursday, September 1 and 2.

“Over the last week, we have demonstrated to Coke the value of our professionalism and our labor,” said Blaine Parks, a 32-year driver for Coke’s production and distribution facility in Bellevue. “We have also sent a strong message to Coke that its employees expect the company to take the collective bargaining process seriously.”

Union representatives expect the 500 area Coke employees will resume normal operations Tuesday morning to catch up with the backlog created by last week’s work stoppage.

“We are optimistic that Coke will return to negotiations prepared to bargain in good faith,” said Tracey A. Thompson, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 117 and chief negotiator for Washington Teamsters United.“Issues like the health care for Coke employees and retirees are too important to our members and their families not to be addressed in a straightforward and forthright manner.”

The Union says it will continue to pursue the Unfair Labor Practice charges it brought against Coke before the National Labor Relations Board as well as the class-action ERISA lawsuit on behalf of Coke employees who had their health care benefits revoked by the company shortly after the work stoppage began last week.

Approximately 500 Coke employees in Western Washington went on strike on Monday, August 23, over charges of employee surveillance, intimidation and bad faith bargaining. Contract negotiations between the Union and Coke have been underway since April. The employees’ contract expired on May 15, 2010.

A Message From
Secretary-Treasurer
Darren O'Neil

Darren O'Neil

Initiative 1082

Yet another initiative to make changes in the Workers Compensation System in the State of

Washington. This initiative to privatize workers' compensation has been filed by Building Industry Association of Washington (B.I.A.W.) along with insurance companies.

We ask that you not support or sign the initiative petition and here are ten reasons why not to:

1. Becuase it is sponsored by insurance companies like A.I.G and organizations like the B.I.A.W.

2. It would allow your employer to unilaterally decide what insurance company would have to fight with to get your benefits.

3. It would prohibit the Department of Labor and Industries from intervening on your behalf if the insurance company was wrongfully denying or delaying your benefits.

4. It would make it more difficult to gain wage increases because it ties the cost of Workers' Compensation Insurance to wages. As wages go up, so would the cost of Workers' Compensation Insurance making it more difficult to receive raises and giving a bigger incentive to reduce wages.

5. It would allow insurance companies to cherry-pick the best risk customers and leave the remainder in the State Fund, thereby driving up their costs and potentially putting them out of business.

6. Like in other states, insurance companies will simply reject claims forcing injured workers to appeal in order to recieve the necessary medical care in order to return to work, and money (time-loss payments) to survive on until then.

7. It introduces, for the first time, the profit motive into Washington Workers' Compensation System. Both insurance companies and employers would have an over whemling interest in reducing what they are required to pay injured workers. ( No one should make a profit based on a worker's injury).

8. This will have a devastating effect on our small businesses who will receive a 28% increase in rates due to to the loss of employee contributions.

9. This will cause a huge budget deficit since State Government is the largest employer currently in the fund. They will need to make up the lost employee contributions by either further cuts to service or additional increases in taxes.

10. We have one of the best Workers' Compensation Systems in the Country. (Relatively high benefits and extremely costs).

Fraternally,
Darren L. O'Neil
Secretary-Treasurer

Teamsters Local #252--Calendar

President’s Corner

Thought for the Month

Gary R. Johnston; President

Question: What Makes A

Union Strong

Answer: YOU do; each of you, and all of you.

Your Union’s strength comes directly from the unity of its members; workers sticking together on issues that affect the workplace. And that means not only supporting other co-workers within your own bargaining unit with their specific issues even though it may not appear to directly impact you or your job classification, but it also means supporting and upholding the fundamental principles of unionism in general. Look for the Union label. Shop Union stores. Buy Union products. Respect sanctioned picket lines. Support your Union Brothers and Sisters on their issues so that they will be inclined to support you on your issues.

Related Websites:

www..dunsireprinters.com

www.unionshop.aflcio.org

www.americanproducts-ny.com

www.unionmadecaps.com

www.silkwormink.com

www.unionandamerican.com