, 

To read more about Mr. Younger, Click Here

Dec. 19th, update- The UPS Latin America Inc. Supplement has passed by a vote of 149  to 11 with one ballot voided.  Five supplements and riders remain.  The negotiating committees for Local 135 and Western Pennsylvania have both reached agreements and will be sent out for balloting early next year.  Still outstanding are the Local 623 supplement, The Ohio Rider and Local 89 rider.

The results of the Dec 10^th, 2013 UPS Western Region vote are in, and all Supplements and Riders under Local 492 have passed. Below are the results of those votes. If you would like to see all the latest results for the votes across the country that have taken place so far, Click Here. There are 6 local supplements and riders that have not been settled yet. (2 of those 6 were re-voted, but were voted down a second time).

SYSCO AND US FOODS AGREE TO MERGE, CREATING A WORLD-CLASS FOODSERVICE COMPANY

According to the Company merger website www.bestofbothinfood.com, the combination brings together the best of both companies to do more for our customers and invest in accelerating the transformation of Sysco and the industry and the total enterprise value will be $8.2 billion.  

Sysco will pay approximately $3.5 billion for the equity of US Foods, comprising $3 billion of Sysco common stock and $500 million of cash. As part of the transaction, Sysco will also assume or refinance US Foods’ net debt, which is currently approximately $4.7 billion, bringing the total enterprise value to $8.2 billion. Sysco has secured fully committed bridge financing and expects to issue permanent financing prior to closing.

After completion of the transaction, the equity holders of US Foods will own approximately 87 million shares, or roughly 13% of Sysco.

Sysco facts- Since the initial public offering in 1970, when sales were $115 million, Sysco has grown to $44 billion in sales for fiscal year 2013. Today, Sysco has sales and service relationships with approximately 425,000 customers. Operating from 193 locations throughout the U.S., Bahamas, Canada, Ireland & Northern Ireland, Sysco's product lines are as diverse as the 48,100 employees

US Foods facts- With approximately $22 billion in annual revenue, the company offers more than 350,000 products. The company proudly employs approximately 25,000 people in more than 60 locations nationwide.

Sysco Chief Executive Bill DeLaney said the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which rules on antitrust matters, would certainly scrutinize the deal but he noted that there were about 15,000 private companies involved in the U.S. food distribution industry. Three antitrust experts agreed that the deal would get a close look, and that the FTC could order some asset sales.

Sysco is the largest operator in the U.S. food distribution business, with US Foods in the No. 2 spot. The combined company will have 25 to 30 percent of the market, two of the experts said. The plan is to close the deal in the third quarter which means the two companies plan on tough meetings with regulators

You can read the Public Release Document Here, or visit the merger Website Here.

UPdate Dec. 23, 2013- YRC Worldwide Reaches Agreement to Reduce Debt by $300 Million

The IBT has released the new YRCW Restructuring Agreement Extension which includes a $750 signing bonus payable 30 days after ratification and another $750 in 2015. The deal also includes a .40 cent raise for 2016, 2017, & 2018. H&W increases are also included for every year but 2014, the pension remains unchanged, and a profit sharing bonus was also included.

Under contract modifications of note; non-CDL employees hired after ratification will be paid $16 PH, the PTS language similar to ABF’s new agreement was added, a “Service Area”   clause was added to allow the company to close terminals that have low shipment density and interline that freight.

Finally, the absenteeism clause was revealed as the “National Uniform Attendance Policy” which is as follows:

National Uniform Attendance Policy

All Regions and Supplements of the NMFA

The parties agree that the purpose of attendance disciplinary action is to correct an employee’s behavior. Continued disregard of attendance obligation will result in discharge if the employee fails to change the behavior.

Disciplinary Progressions for Absenteeism or Tardiness:

          First Offense:       Verbal Warning

          Second Offense:   Warning Letter

          Third Offense:      One (1) Day Suspension

          Fourth Offense:    Three (3) Day Suspension

          Fifth Offense:       Discharge

Progressions will be followed in all instances unless extraordinary circumstances dictate an accelerated or decelerated progression. Examples of an accelerated progression would be No Call/No Shows or blatant abuse of time off. An example of decelerated progression would be a long time period between absences.

Discipline may be issued on all unexcused absences. Committees may consider timely, bona fide, verifiable doctors excuses in determining the validity of disciplinary action.

Proper communication on all absences is the employee’s responsibility.

The Employer may discharge an employee who has received two letters of suspension as long as the letters resulted in agreed to or a committee’s action discipline.

Tyson Johnson said, “The union leadership believes that all our members who would be affected by the company proposal or by the consequences the company says will occur if it is not approved should have the right to decide their own destiny. Given the enormous sacrifices that employees have already made to keep this company in business, TNFINC is not making a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ recommendation. Nevertheless, we are committed that it is our members’ right, not ours, to decide what is best for our members and their families.” Read The Entire IBT Press Release Here.

Ballots are tentatively scheduled to be mailed on or about December 10 and will be counted on or about January 8, 2014.

You can read Extension in its entirety here. 

ABF filed a change of operations on Dec. 4^th, 2013. You can read the accompanying SEC filing here.

Upon implementation of this change of operations, the number of total ABF service facilities will be reduced to 247 from 277 at the beginning of 2013. In the second half of 2013, eight (8) smaller terminals were consolidated without disruption to customers. The change of operations filed outlines the consolidation of an additional 22 smaller terminals into nearby facilities. Click here to view the list. 

ABF Freight is in the process of meeting and reviewing the proposed change with all local unions involved, Local 492 is not affected by this COO. All of these meetings will be concluded prior to the hearing for this matter, in accordance with Article 8, Section 6 of the ABF National Master Freight Agreement. The company has requested that the proposed change of operations be docketed for a hearing as soon as possible in early January.

Local 492 Teamsters will not be affected by the change as there are no terminals in New Mexico in the COO. 8 small terminals have already been closed this year. To view the list of  22 facilities that will be consolidated with other service centers under the Change of Operations, CLICK HERE.

Congratulations to the members at Creamland Dairies, Inc. who voted on November 14th to ratify their contract by an overwhelming majority of 88% in favor of ratification.  The turnout was tremendous with 90% of the eligible members voting. Click Here To Read More.

The members at TDI, the transportation company for the Sara Lee Bakery (now owned by BBU) on November 5th voted to ratify their three year Agreement. The Agreement was ratified unanimously with all of the members participating. Click Here To Read More.

There will be a conference call for UPS Teamsters who are in locals that fall under just the Western Supplement, Local 177 Supplement, Southwest Automotive Rider and Southwest Package and Sort Riders. The call will take place on Saturday, November 16th at 12 Mountain Standard Time. The call will be to discuss the timeline for the new vote.

A representative from Teamsters Western Region and Local 177 Health Care

Plan will also be on the call to discuss plan benefits and answer questions.

For more Info, Click Here

On Tuesday November 5^th, 2013, about 100 Local Teamsters Officers met with YRC management in Dallas Texas to discuss The Company’s debt issues and the possibility of extending the MOU currently in place about 3.5 years longer to end 5 years from the date of ratification. YRC has stated they need this extension in order to secure new financing of the current loans coming due shortly.

YRC stated they were not looking to seek any further H &W or wage concessions from their employees.

To read more Click Here.

There are Open Enrolment Meetings scheduled for Friday November 8th and 15th , 2013 at 9 am and 2 pm and representatives from NWA, Presbyterian, and Lovelace will be there. Click Here for more info on the Nov. 8th meeting. Click here for info on the Nov. 15th meeting.

UPS TEAMSTER CONFERENCE CALL

There will be a conference call for UPS Teamsters who are in locals that fall under just the Western Supplement, Local 177 Supplement, Southwest Automotive Rider and Southwest Package and Sort Riders.

The call will take place on Saturday, November 9th at 12:00 noon Mountain Standard Time. The call will be to discuss the timeline for the new vote. A representative from Teamsters Western Region and Local 177 Health Care Plan will also be on the call to discuss plan benefits and answer questions.

To join the call, dial into 877-327-9495 Click Here for the Code. You may also receive a call on your phone that will connect you directly to the call.

Ballots will be mailed out for the Western Region Supplement, Southwest Package and Automotive Supplement on or about November 13^th, 2013. If you did not receive your ballot, requests for new or replacement ballots must be received by Wednesday November 27^th, 2013. Ballots must be returned and received at the designated Post Office in Lanham, Maryland by 10 am Eastern Time on Tuesday, December 10^th, 2013.

To Learn More About The New Western Region Health Care Plan For UPS Members, Click Here.

If you are unable to be on the call but would like more information talk to your local union or visit www.UPSContractFacts.com.