The ongoing development of drone technology – or unmanned aerial vehicles – raises important questions and challenges for Teamster members at UPS. Earlier this year, the company tested a drone that launches from the top of a package car.
A new article out last week explores the use of automation as the future of parcel delivery.
“The Teamsters Package Division and the union as a whole are deeply engaged in monitoring these technological developments and strategically preparing for the future, with a particular focus on the impact automation could have on our members at UPS and the entire package delivery industry,” said Sean O’Brien, Director of the Teamsters Package Division.
Working with allies and lawmakers, the union is proactively planning on how to respond to this new technology in order to protect UPS Teamsters who may be impacted by automation. The union is also analyzing the safety impact of drones and other automated technology to explore how these issues might be addressed in future bargaining.
Recent FAA-commissioned findings looked at the dangers of drones injuring humans, which seems to be a likely scenario if drones are used in ground-level package delivery. The report also raised concerns about packages being dropped from drones: “For some UAS [unmanned aircraft systems] applications, such as delivery services, there is a risk of losing the payload in flight. If one of these 5-lbs. payloads were to drop from the UAS, it could cause serious injury.”
“For all the hype around drones, there is still a lot of uncertainty and time before this technology can be used to make package deliveries to homes. In the meantime, we have to recognize the role of technology when it improves our lives and working conditions but also fight back when technological changes threaten our jobs and puts the community at risk,” O’Brien said.
The New Mexico Truck Driving Championships were held at the Isleta Resort for the third year.
There were 103 contestants this year, 31 of them were Teamsters from 4 Companies including ABF, TeamOne, UPS Freight, and YRC who sent their best drivers. Teamsters Local 492 would like to thank and congratulate these great Professional Drivers for competing.
Below is a list of the Teamster Companies that competed (in alphabetical order). ABF is the only Company that submitted information, so we apologize if we missed anyone.
ABF had 14 drivers compete, 6 placed:
1st Place Twins - Steven Kelly Russell
2nd Place 4 axle - Joseph Carrillo
2nd Place Sleeper - Ricky Lucas
3rd Place Straight - Kirk Weis
3rd Place Tank - Gerald Benavidez
3rd Place Flatbed - Michael Contreras
Gerald Martinez recently hit 3 million accident free miles and was selected as Driver of the 4th Quarter of 2016 and Driver of the Year. ABF won the Fleet Safety Award for the City Operations in the “100,000 to 500,000 NM miles” category for the 4th year in a row. ABF also won the Fleet Safety Award for the Line Haul Operation in the “Over 5 million NM miles” category for the 6th year in a row. Also competing for ABF; Craig Arellano, Robert Delgado, Fernando Gonzalez, Carl Marquez, Joey Padilla, Chad Sullins, Jesus Vidaca, and Don Wood.
TeamOne (UPS Truckload) won the 500k to 1M Fleet Safety Award again this year and had 2 drivers competing this year; Brian Thais 4-Axle (this is his 9th year competing) & Cam Misner 4-Axle (this is his 5th year competing)
UPS Freight had 5 drivers compete this year:
2nd Place Twins - Keith Brewer
3rd Place 4 Axle – Rick Voeks, who also won Rookie of the Year.
Also competing for UPS Freight; Armondo Hernandez, Joe A Rael, Joe Seijas
YRC had 10 drivers compete this year:
1st Place Sleeper - Michael McAfee
2nd Place 5 Axle - Stanley Aragon II
Wes Johnson was selected as 2016 Driver of the Year and also Competing for YRC was Javier Cruz, Richard Cruz, David Garduño, Martin Griego, Manny Gomez, Samuel Soto, Steven Taylor.
492 Training on Water Trucks, HoneyWagons and Landalls.
Teamsters Local 492 will be offering training classes on June 17, 2017 for Water Trucks, Honeywagons and Landalls. These classes are free of charge and open to any 492 Movie Driverwhose dues/fees are current but you must have A Class A CDL. However, this class will be limited to 30 people. Each section will be divided up into 10 people per piece of equipment and will last approximately 2 hours each and if you want to sign up, you MUST agree to attend all 3 sections. Instructors will provide hands-on training (so bring your gloves) as well as written material to take home.
These classes are being offered by your Union to help 492 drivers gain knowledge of this equipment, as well as give Coordinators and Captains a better trained work force. Since space is limited, if your spot is confirmed by the Union and you do not show up, your name will be moved to the bottom of the list for any future classes. You can view more details and also register online by Clicking Here (you must be logged in to sign up).
XPO drivers in Trenton, New Jersey voted to join Teamsters Local 701 on Friday, April 14, boosting momentum to a nationwide workers' campaign for fairness at the giant transportation and logistics company.
Also voting on Friday, April 14, drivers in Elgin, Illinois and dockworkers in Aurora, Illinois were not successful at this time seeking Teamster representation. The actions of XPO and its high-priced union busters has been egregious and suspect throughout the company's campaigns and will be challenged through the National Labor Relations Board.
The 34 drivers in Trenton join the hundreds of workers nationwide who have already formed their union as Teamsters. The earlier victories were in Aurora (drivers); Miami; Laredo, Texas; Vernon, Calif.; North Haven, Conn.; and King of Prussia, Pa.
"The victory in Trenton and the company's desperate actions in Illinois show that the XPO workers' campaign is getting stronger and stronger, as freight, warehouse and port drivers fight for a more secure future," said Ernie Soehl, Director of the Teamsters National Freight Division, who is also President of Local 701 in North Brunswick, New Jersey. "The workers help make XPO very successful and they deserve to be rewarded for their hard work."
The drivers are seeking decent and affordable health insurance, a secure retirement, job security and a voice on the job. Port, freight and warehouse workers at XPO are coming together across the country in their fight for a more secure future.
In Late 2016, 52 drivers at XPO Logistics in suburban Philadelphia voted for Teamster representation, who joined workers in Miami, FL; Laredo, Texas; Vernon, Calif.; Aurora, Ill.; and in North Haven, Conn. who have already voted for Teamster representation. In addition, 777 workers at Parsec, Inc., in California, who handle XPO freight, voted to join Teamsters Local 986. Hundreds of XPO trucks come in and out of the Parsec yard each week.
Teamsters Local 492 recently updated the Union Hall entryway and had “Spence da Painter” free-hand paint a history theme mural on two of the walls with images from the IBT history books. As you can see from the picture, it looks amazing and Spence did a phenomenal job! You can view more pictures and see his process by Clicking Here. A special thanks to the handy work of two of the 492 Business Agents, Brother Trey White, Sister Melissa Malcom and her husband Brian Chavez for volunteering their free time to update the entryway by painting, hanging moulding, etc. and Retiree Brother Kelvin Holly for getting the floors in the main hall looking great again.
Teamsters Local 492 has made an agreement with the Operating Engineers Local 953 to allow Teamsters to attend their training classes this year (at no cost to our members) which gives our members more opportunities to attend classes rather than just one week. The previously scheduled classes for June at the Teamster Hall will no longer be available.
Training Schedule 2017
Teamster Members ONLY! Effective immediately, only 25 people per class. You must call Kristen Spath at 505-877-5071 to register. This phone number is the only number to call. If you get a fax tone, just call back later. Please dont call any other number to register for these classes.
If you fail to call and register you CANNOT attend the class.
January 14 Forklift Safety Certification 8:00 am –ABQ
February 4 Forklift Safety Certification 8:00 am -Kirtland Hall
February 18 Forklift Safety Certification 8:00 am -Roswell
February 25&26 10-Hour OSHA/3-Hour Hazcom 8:00 am -ABQ
(6-Hour Saturday/4-Hour Sunday) Just Added!!
March4&5 10-Hour OSHA/3-Hour Hazcom 8:00am -ABQ
(6-Hour Saturday/4-Hour Sunday)
March 18&19 10-Hour OSHA/3-Hour Hazcom 8:00 am -Espanola
(6-Hour Saturday/4-Hour Sunday)
April 1&2 10-Hour OSHA/3-Hour Hazcom 8:00 am -Roswell
The 2016 New Mexico Teamsters Appreciation Day had another great turnout this year with the number of members attending increasing by 11% over last year. Members came from a wide variety of crafts and companies which included (in order of highest member turnout) ABF, UPS, YRC, Creamland, UPS Freight, Film/Movies Drivers, AmeriPride Linen, Sysco, Franklins, Penske, Bimbo, Chenega, Hertz, Sandia Labs, and TeamOne. There were Teamster Retirees that also attended and had a booth set up for info on their Teamster Retiree Club.
The Executive Board, Business Agents and office staff were on hand and enjoyed meeting and talking to the Members in this social atmosphere. This year’s theme was Teamster History and everyone enjoyed the free food featuring Popeye’s Chicken, the free Teamster shirts for Members, and face painting for the kids. We also gave away a 40" Flat screen TV, Sound Bar, Tools, Lobo ice chest, and whole lot more including 30 gift bags full of Teamster History books, Teamster History DVD, and also some 492 Teamster swag. The kids who attended received a free Teamster Ring Disc Frisbee. The three most sought after prizes were the TV, won by Ameripride Driver Anthony Perea, and the two custom made 492 Teamster Disk-it’s, won by Ameripride Driver Alonzo Rivas & ABF retiree Albert Perea).
We also heard your requests from last year, and ordered many Teamster Local 492 products for people to purchase including Hats, shirts, lapel pins, coffee mugs, window decals, lunch bags and more. Click Here to view the product list with pictures and prices. These items are still for sale and we will be able to accept Credit Cards during business hours 7:30 to 3:30 pm M-F.
This is the 4th year Teamsters Local 492 has hosted an event to celebrate the Teamsters of New Mexico, and the second year we have had a committee of Volunteer Teamsters Members plan the event. Thank you to the 492 Event Committee, led by Brother Joseph Carrillo which put all of this together and did a phenomenal job on another amazing function!
The Teamsters Local 492 Executive Board, on behalf of all of the Members who enjoyed the event, would like to thank The 492 Volunteer Event Committee for all of their hard work and the countless hours of their personal time they donated to this great Union over the past months preparing for this day. In addition to the planning, The Committee showed up Thursday to set-up the inside of the hall and came in at 8 am Saturday morning to prepare the outside. The Committee also worked the entire event to insure the Members would enjoy themselves. In alphabetical order, The 2016 Committee was: Darlene Archuleta, who also volunteered at the Teamster store and raffle tickets, Sister Esther Basham (ABF), who also volunteered at food table, Brother Joseph Carrillo (ABF), (event coordination), Lacey Eversole (ABF),who also volunteered at the check-in table, Sister Rori Hall (ABF), who also volunteered at the Teamster store and raffle tickets, Brother Albert Lujan (ABF) who also volunteered with face painting for the kids, Sister Melissa Malcom (Movie Driver) who also volunteered at the check-in table, Brother Andrew Palmer (UPS) Brother & Robert Sanders (ABF) who also helped manage trash and drinks, Brother Jesus Vidaca (ABF), who also helped with the Raffle, and Brother Camden White (ABF), who facilitated the chairs & tables donated by Netherwood Park Church of Christ.
We would also like to thank all the volunteers that helped set up the event, close down and clean up, and also thanks to the day-of-the-event volunteers that kept the whole thing running smoothly which include all those above plus; Teamsters Local 492 Secretary-Treasurer Walter R. Maestas, Sister Silvana Cufré (ABF), Brother Robert Delgado (ABF), Brother Eddy Merida (ABF-CA), Brother Chad Sullins (ABF), Brother Donald Wood (ABF), Brother Kirk Weis (ABF), and the daughters of Brother Andrew Palmer (UPS) & Brother Jesus Vidaca (ABF).
(If you would like to be on the event committee or volunteer at our next event, let us know by Clicking Here)
A Special thank you to ABF for lending us their tents and to Line Haul Manager Randy Archer for helping us set them up.
Thank you to all who participated and attended this event, we truly enjoyed seeing all of you and meeting your families and we hope to be able to do this again next year. On behalf the Teamsters Local 492 staff, Business Agents and Executive Board, we truly appreciate the Members of this Local Union and everything you do to make this Union great, and all the hard working Union Stewards that do such a great job helping their fellow Members, Thank you Teamster Brothers & Sisters!
Court Places Injunction on “Workplace Freedom Act” Following Testimony From Teamsters International General Secretary-Treasurer Ken Hall
(CHARLESTON, W.Va.) – Today, all of labor and the middle class working families of West Virginia won a major victory after the Kanawha County Circuit Court granted a request for an injunction that would suspend the destructive right-to-work legislation that was passed earlier this year. The court ruled that the injunction should be granted pending a full review of the merit of the lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the “Workplace Freedom Act” filed by labor unions across West Virginia.
International Brotherhood of Teamsters General Secretary-Treasurer Ken Hall, who also serves as President of Teamster Local 175 in South Charleston, testified before the Kanawha County Circuit Court today to challenge the law. Speaking on behalf of the West Virginia labor movement, Hall noted there are several technical and constitutional issues of the enacted legislation.
“We applaud Judge Bailey’s ruling. This legislation deserves careful consideration by the court. The language of the bill–as it was written, amended and enacted into law–has significant issues that are in violation of the West Virginia Constitution,” Hall said.
The Teamsters and the West Virginia AFL-CIO, along with several other labor unions across the state, filed petitions in Kanawha County Circuit Court challenging the Workplace Freedom Act on June 27, contending that the right-to-work law is intended to discourage union membership by “enabling nonmembers of unions to get union services for free”— an illegal taking of union property and resources.
Earlier this year, a circuit court judge in Wisconsin overturned the state’s right-to-work law over similar challenges in a case that argued the unconstitutional taking of union property and resources.
“The Workplace Freedom Act will not bring freedom to the workplace, as the name deceitfully suggests. Rather, it will deny hardworking West Virginians the rights and protections they need to survive,” Hall said. “If this becomes the law of the land, it will not only be in violation of our state’s very own constitution—it will cause workers’ wages to go down and workplace injuries to go up. This legislation is unconstitutional, unethical and unacceptable for West Virginia.”
The Teamsters Local 492 Executive Board would like to invite you and your family to the 2016 New Mexico Teamsters Appreciation Day, this year's event theme is Teamster History. Come join us tomorrow, Saturday Sept. 17th at the Union Hall from 11am to 4pm. We will be serving free Popeye’s chicken, and the JC3 Teamster truck will be there.
Enjoy free food, music, and free raffle prizes including a 40" Flat screen TV, Sound Bar, Tools, Lobo ice chest, and whole lot more. We will also be giving away 30 gift bags full of Teamster History books, Teamster History DVD, and also some 492 Teamster swag. The kids attending will receive a free Teamster Ring Disc Frisbee. There will also be a Bouncy House (donated by David Candelaria) and there will be face painting artists and Teamster temp-Tattoos.
In addition, you will get your free official 2016 New Mexico Teamsters Appreciation Day tee shirt when you register at the event and we will also have some other free items including Teamster History books. To speed up your registration process, you can download the registration form here, and then just bring it with you filled out to avoid the line.
Due to popular demand, we will have twoCustom Teamsters “DISC-IT” Propane Grills this year, one ticket (for two chances to win) is only $1, or for $10 you will get 12 tickets.
We heard your requests from last year and we have ordered many Teamster Local 492 products for you to purchase this year including Hats, shirts, lapel pins, coffee mugs, window decals, lunch bags and more. Click Here to download the product list with pictures and prices. If you plan on purchasing items, please bring a check or cash (small bills please) as we will NOT be able to accept Credit Cards.
TDC Scores.pdf
