Brother Kevin Pohl is currently the Business Agent for AmeriPride Linen, Chiulista Services, Creamland Dairies, Data Monitor Systems, Estancia Valley Solid Waste Authority, First Impressions, Franklin Earth Moving, Greetings Etc Inc., Hertz, NCRTD Blue Bus, Penske, Sara Lee, Sysco, Team One CS, UPS Freight, & US Airways (American Airlines). Some of these Companies have more than one location, so trying to visit every location of every Company he represents can be quite a task. Last week Kevin went to most of these locations and below you will see a photo montage (Click Here to view in photo gallery) of one day when Brother Trey White had the privilege of following him around as they visited 20 locations.

In addition to his duties as Business Agent, Kevin also serves as the Political coordinator for Local 492. This includes being the 492 contact person for political candidates wishing to be officially endorsed by the Teamsters Local 492, and coordinating 492 member volunteers for those endorsed candidate's campaigns. Brother Pohl is also the Teamsters Local 492 Organizer, as well as representing the Teamsters in the NM Building Material & Construction Trade Division, which includes securing large Federal or State government construction jobs, representing Teamsters local 492 during Project Labor Agreement (PLA's) negotiations, and clarifying/enforcing jurisdictional issues. Brother Pohl is also the Teamsters Local 492 Event Planner, which includes annual Membership Appreciation Day, Steward Seminars, Rallies, etc. Thanks Kevin for all you do for The Teamsters of New Mexico!

American Airlines Passenger Service Agents Reach Tentative Agreement Which Will Cover 15,000 Workers at the Airline with Teamsters and CWA If Ratified.

Click Here to View 492 AA Contract page which has The IBT Notice and Wage Scales  

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters/Communications Workers of America Association has reached a tentative first agreement with American Airlines covering 15,000 passenger service agents. The Association is the joint bargaining group (IBT and CWA) that represents agents at American Airlines.

Details of the tentative agreement are being provided to members and a ratification vote will be scheduled. More information will be made available shortly.

In September 2014, by an 86 percent vote, airport and reservations agents at American—formed by the merger of American Airlines and US Airways—overwhelmingly chose representation by the Teamsters/CWA.

"Today's tentative agreement provides significant pay raises to our team members, while preserving jobs and facilitating growth," said Kerry Philipovitch, senior vice president – Customer Experience. "Our agents and representatives have played a critical role in our integration and we thank them for the superior service they provide to our customers every day. We would also like to thank the CWA-IBT for their professionalism and for advocating for their members, and to both negotiating teams for their dedication and hard work toward reaching an agreement."

The 2015 New Mexico Teamsters Appreciation Day had a record turnout this year with about 500 people (members and their families) attending the event from a wide variety of crafts and companies which included (in alphabetical order) ABF, AmeriPride Linen, Chiulista, Creamland, Film/Movies, Franklins, LANS, NCRTD, OMI, Penske, Sysco, TeamOne, UPS, UPS Freight, and YRC. There were Teamster Retirees that also attended and had a booth set up for info on their Teamster Retiree Club.

To View Photos of the Event, Click Here

Guest speakers included Teamsters Vice President Steve Vairma, US Congresswoman Michelle Lujan Grisham, and New Mexico State Senator & Majority Leader Michael Sanchez. The Executive Board, Business Agents and office staff were on hand and enjoyed meeting and talking to the Members in this social atmosphere which also gave the Members a chance to have quality time to get to know the 492 E-Board & BA’s better. Everyone enjoyed the food featuring Popeye’s Chicken, the free Teamster shirts for Members, face painting, and some Teamster swag as well. 

The Teamsters Joint Council #3 Truck was there (thanks to Retired 455 Vice President, Jim Adams, who drove it down from CO).

We would like to thank Brother David Snow, who is a Union Steward at Creamland, for donating his time and Jumper for the kids to play in.

There was also a raffle where we had lots of prizes and lots of winners. The two most sought after prizes were the TV (won by Brother John Petitt of UPS) and the custom made 492 Teamster Disk-it (won by Brother Joshua Cordova of ABF).

This is the 3rd year Teamsters Local 492 has hosted an event to celebrate the Teamsters of New Mexico, but this is the first year we have had a committee of Teamsters Members plan the event, and it definitely showed. As you may have noticed, the event was very well organized and this years Member attendance more than doubled last year’s! That is thanks to Brother Kevin Pohl and his 492 Event Committee, led by Brother Joseph Carrillo. The Event Committee put all of this together, got the word out, and performed way beyond expectations with a phenomenal job! The attention to detail, the seamless functionality, the amazing appearance, the great prizes, and everything else, were all because of the work and vision The 492 Event Committee. 

The Teamsters Local 492 Executive Board, on behalf of all of the Members who enjoyed the event, would like to thank The 492 Event Committee for all of their hard work and the countless hours of their personal time they donated to this great Union over the last 3 months preparing for this day. On the committee are (in alphabetical order) Sister Esther Basham who also volunteered at food table, Brother Joseph Carrillo (event coordination), Sister Silvana Cufré who also volunteered with face painting for the kids, Sister Lacey Eversole who also volunteered at the check-in table, Sister Rori Hall who also volunteered at the check-in table, Brother Albert Lujan who also volunteered with face painting for the kids, and Brother Robert Sanders who also volunteered at the DRIVE table.

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; Sister Darlene Archuleta, Sister Melinda Delgado, Brother Robert Delgado, Sister Jenny Gutierrez, Sister Lena Hodges, Sister Mary Jeter, Teamsters Local 492 Secretary-Treasurer Walter R. Maestas, Sister Melissa Malcom, Brother Eddy Merida, Brother Josh Perez, and Brother Jesus Vidaca. (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!

The Teamsters Local 492 Executive Board would like to invite you and your family to the 2015 New Mexico Teamsters Appreciation Day for some food, music, and great raffle prizes.  Come join us on Saturday 26th at the Union Hall from 11am to 4pm. This year’s event will feature special speakers such as Teamsters Vice President Steve Vairma and New Mexico Senator Michael Sanchez.  We will be serving Popeye’s chicken, the JC3 Teamster truck will be there, and we will have many more raffle prizes than last year.  In addition, you will get your official New Mexico Teamsters Appreciation Day tee shirt when you register at the event.  We look forward to seeing you there. 

By Teamster General President James P. Hoffa September 9, 2015

Everyday Americans are facing increased challenges at work and at home. The outsourcing of millions of good-paying jobs overseas has led to lower paychecks here in the U.S. That, in turn, has made it more difficult for many workers to provide for their families.

The Teamsters, however, have a plan to help turn the tide. Called “Let’s Get America Working,” it will encourage both Democratic and Republican lawmakers to endorse a pro-worker platform. At the center of the campaign is the need for this country to invest in infrastructure, which in turn will create good jobs for hardworking Americans.

U.S. Transportation Department Secretary Anthony Foxx, a Democrat, and former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, a Republican, and I will be discussing how infrastructure investment is key to creating new, better-paying jobs and getting the U.S. economy back on track. Working on transportation, energy and water projects will put thousands to work in construction jobs across the country. It will also improve roads, bridges, ports and other infrastructure, which in turn will help business and improve the U.S. economy.

Buy-in from both parties is necessary to effectuate change. If this nation is going to improve the lives of its citizens, Congress needs to advance bipartisan policies that will encourage good job growth. And it must put the current and future generations of workers in a position to succeed in the workforce by giving them the skills they need.

There was a time when all these issues weren’t partisan issues — they were American values, something everyone could support. But government is broken. Partisan bickering has replaced finding solutions. That’s why it’s essential for the Teamsters and like-minded allies all over the country to join together and push this message with lawmakers, colleagues, friends and family.

Infrastructure presents an opportunity to break the political gridlock. Congress in late July approved a three-month extension for spending on transportation projects that provides a temporary patch until the end of October for continuing road and rail funding. But it is not a real solution.

Since 2008, Congress has transferred more than $62 billion from the general fund to keep the Highway Trust Fund afloat, and it has been more than a decade since Congress has passed a highway bill more than two years in duration. Meanwhile, the transportation system continues to crumble and the safety of those who work and travel along the vast network of U.S. roads and rails is being jeopardized.

There also is a significant need to move forward with a broader agenda that puts U.S. workers first. That means standing up against lousy trade deals like the Trans-Pacific Partnership that send American jobs overseas; protecting workers’ rights to form unions and collectively bargain; increasing affordability of college and vocational schools; and ensuring retirement and pension security for working families.

If elected representatives from both parties want to rebuild the trust between government and workers, they need to reinvest in the people that make this country great. Better pay will lead to more spending and improve workers’ quality of life. Everyone wins.

Let’s get America working.

Congratulations to UPS Teamster Mike Mackey, who retired today from UPS after 40 years of service! Brother Mike started at UPS in 1975 as a loader and worked at the very first building which was located at Bellamah & Rio Grande. He was part time for 10 months then took a driving route that encompassed a large portion of the city; from Central & Loams to Louisiana & the Foothills. There were only 27 drivers for UPS covering the whole state of NM at that time. Mike then changed to the North Edith/Sandia Pueblo route which he stayed on for 25 years. He had the Placitas area for 5 years and retired on the 80d route.

Brother Mackey married Judy in 1979 and they have 2 children. His Jess also works for UPS Aspen and his daughter has 3 degrees, in bio engineering, and has her Masters in Molecular Engineering from Princeton.

Congratulations to Brother Mike Mackey for a well deserve Teamster retirement! We wish you all the best!

New Mexico Supreme Court Sides With Unions In Wage Case

SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN Associated Press

The New Mexico Supreme Court on Monday sided with a group of unions and ordered state labor officials to revamp the way they set prevailing wage and fringe-benefit rates for certain public works projects.

The court said Gov. Susana Martinez’s administration has a duty under a 2009 change in state law to set rates based on collective-bargaining agreements rather than on wage surveys and other information.

Justice Petra Jimenez Maes wrote in a 15-page opinion that the failure of the director of the state labor relations division to do that has resulted in stagnant rates for public projects for the last five years. As a result, payments to workers have been anywhere between 5 and 35 percent below what would have otherwise been required.

“The director’s delay in setting new rates and his failure to comply with the act is inexcusable,” Maes wrote.

The court gave state labor officials 30 days to set new rates.

The New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions said the ruling will compromise the right of New Mexicans to have their money spent wisely. “This is a huge loss for New Mexico taxpayers and a victory for special interests that will grossly inflate the cost of public construction projects, including roads and schools, in New Mexico,” spokeswoman Joy Forehand said in a statement.

The New Mexico Building and Construction Trades Council, along with unions representing electricians and sheet metal workers, first raised concerns about compensation in 2011. At the time, state officials told the justices they would be able to set new rates within four to five months.

The labor department answered by implementing new regulations; that move prompted litigation. The unions filed another petition with the Supreme Court seeking to force officials to abide by the language adopted in 2009.

Efforts to repeal the law have been unsuccessful, and union officials said Monday that more challenges are expected given the court order.

Shane Youtz, an Albuquerque attorney who represented the unions, said the order means thousands of plumbers, electricians and sheet metal workers should see wage increases in the next 30 days.

Teamsters Local 492 held OSHA 10 (General Industry), Haz-Com Refresher Classes, & Forklift training certification for Teamster 492 Members at the Local Union Hall this weekend.  

We had a very good turnout this year; 11 Teamsters received their OSHA 10 (General Industry) certification, 58 Teamsters received their Hazard Communication certification, and 23 received their Forklift Certification.

These Teamster Members took time out of their busy schedules to obtain their certifications in these areas and we were proud to be there for them. Thank you to Brother Chuck Richardson of Local 631 for coming out to run the training classes. A special thanks goes out to both, Brother Kevin Pohl and Brother Moises Ortega for setting up the class and volunteering their weekend to keep the classes running on Saturday & Sunday; these classes would not be possible without their dedication to the members of Teamsters Local 492.

Finally, thank you to United Rentals for providing the forklift and pettibone forklift.