October 2007

Upcoming Monthly General Membership Meeting Dates - Be sure to mark your calendar:

Monday, October 22, 2007 @ 8:00 p.m. at 217 East Main Street, Centralia, WA.

PLEASE NOTE:  Due to the recent sale of the Laborer’s Hall in Aberdeen, the meeting place for the November General Membership has been changed (SEE BELOW ADDRESS).

Monday, November 26, 2007 @ 8:00 p.m. at Carpenters Local #317, 316 E. 1st Street, Aberdeen, WA.

Monday, December 17, 2007 @ 8:00 p.m. at 119-1/2 N. Capitol Way, Olympia, WA

Monday, January 28, 2008 @ 8:00 p.m. at 217 East Main Street, Centralia, WA

The Local Union Executive Board has confirmed or re-confirmed the appointments of the following Shop Stewards:  Glen Maltsby, Tumwater UPS; Eldon Shave and Tim Walling, Olympia School District (Custodial/Maintence/Grounds); and Jim Wall and Karina Andrews, Olympia School District (Bus Drivers).   The Local would like to extend a big thank you to these individuals for their service.

Twelve New Members:  Longtime Rochester School custodians, who were working for American Building Maintenance Inc. have become Teamsters.  Under their former employer, they were paid little above minimum wage and had no other benefits.  As Teamsters, they now receive higher wages, Health Insurance, vacation, sick leave and retirement with the protections of a Collective Bargaining Agreement.  Welcome to the TEAMSTERS!

NOTICE TO ALL MEMBERS REGARDING WITHDRAWAL CARDS: Should you become unemployed (e.g. layoff, termination, leave of absence, injury or illness), it is your obligation and responsibility to contact the Local Union to determine if placing you on withdrawal status is appropriate. If you have any questions regarding your dues status please contact the main office in Centralia at (360) 736-9979 or 800-624-8821. 

REMINDER FOR LOCAL 252 CONSTRUCTION MEMBERS: For those members who work under the AGC/Teamsters Building, Heavy and Highway Construction Labor Agreement remember that before opening a new unemployment claim you need to make contact with the main Local Union office in Centralia and add your name to the Construction “out-of-work” list.  If calling after normal work hours please leave a message on Toni Keller’s extension #100.

Mason County Workers go Green:  Mason County Park personnel recently recognized by the Mason County Commissioners and receiving Green Start Pins included Teamster members Raegene Churchill, Carl Olson, Jesse Weston, Ernie Pinon, Bill Ells and Robert Chavis.

Our sincere sympathy and condolences to the family and friends of Richard Helgeson, age 60, Lakeside Industries retiree who passed away August 21, 2007.  Richard retired in November 2006 having been a Teamster member since 1969.  He is survived by his wife Laurel at their home in Olympia; children, Aaron, Heather, Kim and Derek; his grandchildren; and brother’s Kenneth and Bud.  In lieu of flowers, a memorial donation can be made to Fred Hutchinson Research Center, MS:  J5-200, P. O. Box 19024, Seattle, WA  98109-1024 or to a charity of your choice. 

Our sincere sympathy and condolences to: Scott Mattoon, whose wife Deborah, age 46, passed away suddenly on July 4, 2007.  Scott is a Supervisor with Lewis County; to Pat Christian, whose husband William C. Christian, age 50, passed away suddenly on July 25, 2007.  William had been working for Harbor Disposal in Aberdeen since November 2004, having transferred in from Teamsters Local 174; to the family and friends of former Olympia Brewery member and Shop Steward Thomas M. Krumland, who was killed in a auto accident just prior to his 46 birthday; and to the family and friends of Local 252 retiree Allen Cox and Local 378 retiree Clifford E. Tyler.

Congratulations to our recent retirees:  June Smith, retired 9/1/07 having previously worked for Miller Brewery until the plant closure in 2003.  She became a Teamster member with Local 378 in 1968; Wayne Vance, UPS package driver in Chehalis retired after 27 years in the Teamsters and Tim Flumerfelt, a Tumwater UPS package driver retired 10/1/07 having worked as a Teamster for 28 years.

ATTENTION MEMBERS COVERED UNDER WASHINGTON TEAMSTERS WELFARE TRUST H&W PLANS - DID YOU KNOW?  Children 19 years of age through 25 years of age are not covered unless they are unmarried, attending an accredited educational institution on a full-time basis and are dependent on you for support and maintenance.  If you have a child that meets the description above, we would like to remind you to be sure and complete a “FULL-TIME SCHOOL INFORMATION FORM” and submit to Northwest Administrators as soon as possible for the fall quarter.  All too often the submission of this form is overlooked, which can result in delays in the processing of H&W claims.  Forms are available at the Local Union office, or online at Northwest Administrators website address at www.nwadmin.com.

IMPORTANT NOTICE:  Teamsters Training Center is looking for Apprenticeship Applicants to be TEAMSTER CONSTRUCTION TRUCK DRIVERS IN WASHINGTON STATE.  Applicants need to be over 21, able to read and speak the English language and be capable of obtaining a commercial drivers license.  For more information call 1-888-600-8297 or visit www.teamsterstraining.org.