Teamster Bus Driver Leo Valencia Takes Top Honors at 2016 Annual Bus Roadeo and Conference

Teamster Leo Valencia who is a driver for North Central Regional Transit District took first place in the Cutaway Bus competition at this year’s Bus Roadeo and Conference.  The April 3 event was held during the Annual Conference and Expo which took place at the Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces in Las Cruces, New Mexico. (See Photos Here)

A warm round of congratulations from NCRTD Board Members and Board meeting attendees greeted Leo on April 8 where NCRTD Executive Director, Anthony Mortillaro, presented him with the NMPTA plaque honoring him for his First Place finish.

As winner of the New Mexico State Roadeo, Leo went to Portland for the National Roadeo event at the Community Transportation Association Expo in May where he, along with other New Mexico Roadeo conference winners, represented the Land of Enchantment. This is the 4^th time in the last 5 years Leo has won 1^st place in the state competition. Leo placed 14^th in the national competition.   

Leo Valencia drives for the RTD 340 Chile Line Red and began driving for the Chile Line in back in 2010.

Always a highlight of the Annual NMPTA Conference, the Roadeo is a fun and friendly challenge among transit drivers from across the State.  What might look like a maze of randomly placed orange cones to the untrained eye, the expert drivers know exactly what they need to do to maneuver the course with precision.  The timed course contains obstacles that test every phase a bus operator encounters under normal driving conditions.  In addition to driving skills and written test, participants are also tested on ADA wheelchair securement standards and pre-trip vehicle inspection.

The competition is a showcase of vehicle operator skills and promotes safety, professionalism and excellence in transit operations.

James R. Hoffa Memorial Scholarship Fund Annual Essay Contest

The topic of the 2016 Essay Contest has been announced:  "What has living in a Teamster household meant to me and my siblings?" A link to the essay contest application is provided here.  All applicants must use the Essay Contest application and return it, along with their essay by June 15, 2016.

Separate from the annual scholarship for high school seniors, the James R. Hoffa Memorial Scholarship Fund Essay Contest will award one-time $1,000.00 scholarships annually to 200 students. All applicants must comply with the following eligibility criteria:

1. Be the son, daughter or financial dependent of an eligible Teamster member, hereafter also referred to as “Teamster Member Relation”;

2. Be enrolled full-time in an undergraduate college, university or community college program, or a technical or vocational program;

3. Be 23 years old or younger by June 15, 2016.

About the Fund: James R. Hoffa became a Teamster member in 1934 and served as General President for 14 years, and, in recognition of his tireless service to the union and its members, was honored as General President Emeritus for life. At the November 1999 General Executive Board meeting, then-General Secretary-Treasurer C. Thomas Keegel presented a resolution to establish the new scholarship fund. This site describes the James R. Hoffa Memorial Scholarship Fund (JRHMSF) and outlines eligibility requirements and application procedures.

The James R. Hoffa Memorial Scholarship Fund is an independent organization established and registered as a tax-exempt entity under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Fund is established solely to provide scholarships to the child or dependent of a member of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, and contributions to the Fund are deductible as charitable contributions to the extent permitted by law. In 2015 the Fund awarded $1,000,000 in scholarships.

The New Mexico Truck Driving Championships were held this year at the Isleta Resort for the second year. There was a large spectator turnout and the event is looking more like a “state fair/balloon fiesta” type function every year. With ABF, Sysco, UPS Freight, and YRC all having cook outs, it was a great family day for all that attended.  See Photos Here

This year, the event had not only trucking companies showcasing their driver’s talents, but some companies set up booths for people to learn more about their company. There were also vendors with booths of their own giving out goodies which included; Mack Truck, Rush Truck Center, Pre-Pass, NM Trucking, NM DOT-ITS (Intelligent Transportation Systems), Penske, and Legal Shield. There were also “show trucks” there, including the Teamster Joint Council #3 Truck, (thanks to Teamster retiree Jim Adams for bringing it in from Colorado) the ATA Share-The-Road Truck, San Juan Community College Truck, and the Veterans Day-POW Tanker by EMG Ltd.

The Teamster Companies were well represented again this year with 35 Teamsters from 5 Companies competing including ABF, Sysco, TeamOne, UPS Freight, and YRC sending their best of the best. Teamsters Local 492 is proud of these great drivers for competing in the TDC this year. Whether they placed or not, having such a strong Teamster presence of Professional Drivers at these functions speaks volumes in the trucking industry.

Congratulations to all the competitors and winners for another great Truck Roadeo! A special thanks to Teamsters Robert Aragon, Albert Lujan, Kenton Newbill, and Chad Sullins for volunteering to hostle and to Teamster Roy Lucas and also Ron Cordova, Randy Archer and his wife for setting up all the tents and cooking for everyone again this year, and all of the other unnamed volunteers that helped cook for the members.

Below is a list of the Teamster Companies that competed (in alphabetical order). Some of the companies did not respond to our request for information, so we apologize if we missed anyone.            

ABF had 17 drivers compete, 13 placed:

Straight Truck: Don Wood – 2nd Place

3 Axle: Robert Delgado – 2nd Place

4 Axle: Ralph Garcia – 1st Place

4 Axle: Justin Gallant – 2nd Place (Rookie)

5 Axle: Joey Padilla – 2nd Place (Rookie)

5 Axle: Duane Oldfield – 3rd Place

Flatbed: Michael Contreras – 1st Place

Flatbed: Josh Perez – 2nd Place (Rookie)

Sleeper: Joseph Carrillo – 1st Place

Sleeper: Charlie Estrada – 3rd Place

Tanker: Gerald Benavidez – 1st Place

Tanker: Carl Marquez – 2nd Place

Twins: Fernando Gonzalez – 2nd Place (Rookie)

Justin Gallant – Rookie of the Year

ABF received the Team of the Year Award for the highest points.

ABF also was awarded the Fleet Safety Awards in the following categories:

100k – 500k Miles Fleet (City Operations)

5 Million Miles plus (Line Haul Operations)

The following ABF Teamsters also competed: In the 3 Axle - Randel Amberman & Kirk Wise. In the Twins Trailers - Ricky Lucas & Steven Russell.

Sysco - David Logan won 3^rd place in Tanker.

Sysco had 6 drivers competing this year: In 3 Axle - Thomas Humphries, Jose Salas, & Sean Smartt. In 5 Axle - Aaron Clanan. In Tanker Truck – David Logan and Martin Montez.

TeamOne (UPS Truckload) won the 500k to 1M Fleet Safety Award and had 2 drivers competing this year; Brian Thais 4-Axle (this is his 8^th year competing) & Cam Misner 4-Axle (this is his 4^th year competing) 

UPS Freight had 6 drivers compete this year: In 3 Axle - Steve Lopez, Ginger Victoria McKeegan & Joe Seijas. In 4 Axle - Keith Brewer & Armondo Hernandez. In Flatbed - Wendell Ellis.

YRC had 4 drivers compete this year: Stanley Aragon in 4 Axle. In 5 Axle Sleeper - Michael McAfee & Jack Rojas, In 5 Axle - Steven Taylor.

It was another great event put on by the NMTA and it seems to improve and grow larger each year. It was also great to see such a strong Teamster presence again this year and we hope to see you all again next year! Click Here to view all the scores.

Drivers Seek Better Benefits, Strong Retirement, Fair Work Rules

The fight and long-term Teamster commitment to organize workers at FedEx Freight and to win first contracts moves forward, and the drivers are committed to keeping up the pressure in their quest for justice at their workplace.

“The main thing we’re fighting is corporate greed,” said Mel Mendieta, who has worked as a city driver at FedEx Freight for more than 25 years. “The company was cutting our benefits and our retirement security is lousy. We needed to form our union to gain our voice and help rebuild the middle class.”

In 2015, Mendieta and 49 of his co-workers voted to join Local 439 in Stockton, Calif. Like FedEx Freight workers who also made Teamster history by voting to join the union at three other locations, they are remaining positive and fighting to win their first contract. The contract fight is now in court and with the NLRB.

The Teamsters are making progress at both FedEx Freight and at Con-way Freight, with organizing, firstever national days of action at both companies, nationwide engagement and interaction with the workers and the bargaining process that’s under way. The union has also filed unfair labor practices charges, is involved with federal court cases, is building nationwide activist committees, is conducting freight member organizing trainings, launching shareholder resolutions and other ongoing steps.

A Long-Term Effort

“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, the campaigns to build Teamster power at FedEx Freight and Con-way are not sprints, they are marathons,” said Tyson Johnson, Director of the Teamsters National Freight Division. “We are committed long-term to this fight so that FedEx Freight and Con-way workers will have an opportunity to enjoy a more secure future as Teamsters.”

Carter Marshall, a road driver at FedEx Freight near Chicago, said he wants to form a union with the Teamsters so that he and his co-workers can fight for better health care and retirement, and consistent work rules.

“The work rules are constantly changing and you don’t know from one day to the next what you need to do,” Marshall said. “It makes the job very difficult.”

In Charlotte, N.C. where FedEx Freight workers joined Local 71, they are also in court trying to get the company to bargain fairly for a contract.

“We’re dropping anchor and getting ready for the long-term fight,” said Patrick Harrington, a road driver at FedEx Freight in Charlotte. “We appreciate all the support from Teamster freight members.”

Although workers don’t yet have a contract, Harrington said conditions have improved dramatically.

“We have more job security in Charlotte since forming our union,” he said. “It’s a night and day difference. I’m ecstatic. We’re getting stronger.”

Already Successful

The Teamsters’ campaign has already raised standards for workers at both companies. For example, Con-way has spent more than $60 million on pay raises since the campaign began, in addition to the big money it has spent on union busting.

FedEx Freight raised wages at some facilities by as much as $4 per hour and almost 10 cents a mile in compensation, which includes a company-first 90-cent across-the-board increase last October. It has also held the employees’ costs for health care static for the first time in more than a decade. The union estimates that the company has spent nearly $300 million this past year on pay raises, benefits and union busting tactics.

Raising standards in the freight industry through the Teamsters’ efforts is an important factor which helps the FedEx Freight and Con-way workers directly. The union’s efforts also indirectly help all freight industry workers, including our Teamster freight membership.

Mendieta said he hopes other FedEx Freight workers will research how the company’s corporate greed is hurting them. “The company is full of spin and deception,” he said.

Workers are not giving up and they appreciate the support that Teamsters are providing. “

Our fight will continue,” he said. “It’s an uphill battle but there’s strength in numbers.”

Click Here To Read More About the FedEx Freight and XPO/Conway Organizing Campaigns  

On March 7, 2016, a federal appeals court enforced a decision of the National Labor Relations Board and ordered FedEx Freight to recognize and bargain with Teamster Local 71 in Charlotte, N.C. and Local 107 in Philadelphia, where members in separate elections had voted to join the Teamsters.   FedEx Freight had refused to recognize the NLRB’s bargaining unit determinations and the resulting union election victories. This decision is a major win for Teamsters at FedEx Freight! Read the latest decisions in the case.

FedEx Freight Employees Demand Bargaining Now

FedEx Freight workers who have joined the Teamsters are fighting for fair contracts and they are asking their co-workers at FedEx Freight to fill out a petition demanding that the company bargain with the union. Click Here to sign petition. 

We had a big night in Santa Fe! Thank you to everyone who came out today and has helped us along the way. It's really been a team effort. Here is the update: 

New Mexico had one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation in recent months. You’d think that Gov. Susana Martinez and state legislators would focus on getting New Mexicans back to work and protecting good jobs.

But they’re doing just the opposite. This week, the state House began debate on a bill that would eliminate prevailing wage laws for construction workers. This bill will lower the wages of hardworking New Mexicans, make it easier for construction companies to hire out-of-state workers for taxpayer-funded projects and make our schools, bridges and roads less safe and cost more.

The New Mexico House is expected to pass this bill, but we think we have a good shot at stopping it from moving out of the state Senate.

Send an email to your senator today and ask them to vote against any bill that would eliminate prevailing wage laws.

This one is pretty simple. Prevailing wage laws help to ensure that local workers, whose families shop and support local businesses in our communities, are hired to build our schools, bridges and other taxpayer-funded projects.

But if these laws are repealed, less-skilled, out-of-state construction workers will be brought in to do this work, which won’t save our communities any money—in many cases, it costs more—because they won’t be getting the job done right the first time. Also, having less-skilled workers do these jobs would make the schools, bridges and roads we use every day less safe.

That’s not what our families and working people deserve.

Contact your senator today and ask them to protect existing prevailing wage laws.

Susana Martinez and other politicians in Santa Fe have made it clear they want to pass an unfair and unnecessary “right to work” bill this legislative session. This legislation would silence the professional voices of workers including Teamsters, teachers, nurses, firefighters and police officers and cut pay and benefits for even non-union New Mexico workers.

Sign This Petition Now By Clicking Here to tell legislators in Santa Fe to vote no on right to work! 

SB 269 is scheduled for a hearing in Senate Public Affairs Committee (SPAC) on Tuesday afternoon/evening. The committee meeting starts at 1:30pm (or 30 min post floor session) in room 321. We don't have an exact time that they will get to SB 269, but we expect this will be a long, late hearing. There are a lot of contentious bills on the committee calendar for Tuesday. Please plan to join us if you can. 

WHAT: Senate Public Affairs Committee Vote on SB296, so-called “right to work” bill 
WHERE: NM State Capitol, Room 321 
WHEN: Tuesday, February 9th at 1:30 PM*

If folks aren’t able to make it in person tomorrow, they can help spread the word and share our petition calling on the legislature to reject this deceptive and unnecessary bill!

House Bill 200 an Attack on Good Wages and #WrongforNM

Workers Are Under Attack!

The same powerful interests pushing Right-to-Work are attacking Prevailing Wage protections in state law.

House Bill 200 is scheduled in the House Business & Employment Committee THIS THURSDAY, January 28 at 8:30 AM in Room 307.

Call your NM Legislator today! Click Here to find your Legislator info

CLICK HERE for Info Sheet on The Importance of Prevailing Wage!

CLICK HERE for HB200 Talking Points

This is the ONLY committee hearing for HB 200 in the House, so please come out to oppose the bill and testify in support of working New Mexicans!