Tentative Agreement Reached for Sysco NM

September 4, 2019 -  Your Teamster Negotiating Committee met a final time with Sysco NM today to see if the previous Tentative Agreement could be improved upon to justify a second vote and avoid a strike. Your Union Committee has unanimously recommended this Tentative Agreement as well as the IBT & Local Union 492. The New T/A will expire on April 25, 2025 and now includes a signing bonus of $500 for every fulltime employee (even those on DIP/WHIP) if ratified by September 15th, 2019.

The new wage & pension increases include record setting large increase upfront in the first year of .90¢ for Drivers and .70¢ for whse and additional .10¢ into the pension in 2025.   

The company has also made a verbal commitment to correct loading issues regarding not giving drivers enough space around the back of the door and the freezer door so drivers can safely unload at their first stop.

To ensure everyone’s voice is heard before a 9/14/19 strike, your Union will be at your facility so that you can cast your secret ballot in person. For those of you that are out of town, your Union representative will also be visiting the facilities across the state of NM to give everyone a chance to vote. We will notify your stewards about the dates and times of these visits which will be in the upcoming week (September 8th thru Sept 13th).  The ballots will be counted on September 13th, 2019.

All of the other improvements and changes from the previous July T/A are still intact. As you may already know, we made a lot of headway getting some of the biggest issues addressed that you, the members, told us you had with your contract.  Some of the bigger issues resolved include;

• Several improvements to the vacation language, including: (1) An increase to 2 weeks’ vacation after only 6 months seniority, (2) a 5th week for those with 25 years or more, (3) The option to cash out all weeks of vacation, (4) the Company will now cash out all unused vacation upon voluntary quit, retire, resign or layoff, (5) Paid vacation will now show as “time worked” when calculating overtime hours.
• Part-time employee’s improvements include preventing future overuse of using part-timers and terminating part-timers at will.
• The Union gave the Company the ability to post driver bids as single day (They are not forced to do so but now once again have the ability)
• The Company must now notify the Union before changing WHIP or DIP
• Increased the meal allowance for overnight drivers
• Added new language to the grievance procedure we hope will help better resolve issues that come up in the future.
• Added language to stop the abuse of supervisors working, including requirement to exhaust all those wanting overtime.
• Paid Holidays and Paid Vacations will now be included as “time worked” when calculating overtime hours.    

Some of the smaller issues resolved include:

• Multiple issues resolved regarding posting bids
• Posting overtime sheets
• Driver protection if bid is abolished
• Restructured night differential in the whse
• Extra break for whse employees working long hours

Your Union Committee was able to get the largest increase that Sysco NM employees have ever seen and it was front loaded. Front loading means that the increase is compounded every year with the next increase and so on. The IBT, Local Union 492 and your Union Committee are unanimously recommending this Tentative Agreement! Call your Business Agent Tracy McCarty at 505-344-1925 Ex 18 with any questions.  

The Teamsters unveiled a new national 2020 presidential election survey Thursday that will allow members to give the union input on the issues that matter most to them so that the Teamsters in turn can get answers from contenders that it can then share with the membership.

By going to www.teamsters2020.com Teamsters can access an online version of the survey. It is all part of the union’s effort to find out what is on the mind of members. Using that information, the union will then query presidential candidates interested in receiving the Teamsters’ endorsement.

“We’ve got to shape the debate about what this election is about,” Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa told attendees at the 2019 Teamster political coordinators meeting, where the survey debuted. “Candidates are going to come to us and ask for our support. But at this time, I’m not hearing what we should be hearing on the issues.”

Over the next two months, the Teamsters will gather opinions from members, which in turn the union will use in its ongoing conversations with the presidential candidates. Those responses, as well as candidate video interviews and participation in pro-union activities, will all influence the Teamsters’ endorsement decision.

Candidates seeking the blessing and support of the Teamsters must understand the importance unions play in the working lives of the American worker and the economy as a whole. Supporting organizing efforts and standing for fairness and respect in the workplace is essential.

The survey also serves as the start of the Teamsters member engagement and education effort for the 2020 election.  Would-be voters must educate themselves. What are the candidates’ views of the future for working Americans? And how will they affect not only workers today, but their children and grandchildren who will need to support themselves in the decades to come? That is something the Teamsters plan on helping its membership discern in the months ahead.

"The Teamsters want to hear from members about what their issues and concerns are as the nation prepares for this pivotal election," Teamsters general President Jim Hoffa said. "This union will be putting on a full-court press to demand that any candidate for president listen to our members and address our concerns. The Teamster 2020 survey is an important step as we hear directly from our members on what issues they'll be voting on."

Workers deserve politicians who are partners that realize that it is not just jobs, but the quality and dependability of those jobs that matters. U.S. leadership should realize that those who worked hard and played by the rules should have the ability to provide a comfortable life for their loved ones, and retire with the benefits they were promised. That needs to be the goal of anyone seeking to be president Working Americans are facing numerous challenges.

Teamsters Local 492 Film Division Agent Melissa Malcom served on the 2019 NM Film and Media Industry Conference Union Panel again this year, representing NM Unions and the Teamsters Thursday thru Saturday (Aug 8-10, 2019). There was a record 450 people and over 60 vendors that attended the 8^th annual event. Sister Malcom spoke to hundreds of attendees and answered a number of questions from the audience including many questions about how to become a Teamster in Film (Click Here to learn more about Teamster Movie Jobs). She spoke about being professional on set which included the importance of “set & road etiquette” and what that means.

Melissa Malcom also emphasized the importance of doing a good job, staying busy and following instructions in order to build a good reputation which would help get future productions to want to hire an individual on their next show. “Treat the job you have now like an interview for your next job," 492 Film BA Melissa Malcom said to the large audience.  "The film workers that work hard, show up on time, act in a professional manner, do what the Captains ask and don’t damage the production companies property, are the workers that are going to be picked by productions from our referral list in the future. Unfortunately, there are workers out there that can’t seem to understand how important this is.” 

The 2019 NM Teamster Appreciation Day event is tomorrow, Saturday September 28th, 2019 from 11am to 2:30pm. Enjoy free food with music and fun for the kids! Also, come get your free 2019 NMTAD Teamster shirt, and win great free raffle prizes like the 50” Roku 4K Smart TV and much more! Make sure to bring your Family and get to know The 492 Teamsters Executive Board, Business Agents & Staff. You can download the Event Flyer by Clicking Here.

To speed up the registration, you can download the register form by clicking here, fill it out ahead of time, print it and bring it with you.  

If you would like to help set up the tents, come by around 8 am and we will have a Blake’s breakfast burrito waiting for you!

For those of you in the Western States Pension Fund (ABF, Ameripride pre-2014, ATF, Chiulista, Creamland, DMS, Franklins, Hertz, LANS, N3B, Penske, Sysco, Triad, UPS & YRC pre-2009) there is a new feature on their website where you can have access to your personal plan information.

7-23-19 - Tentative Agreement Reached for Sysco NM

To All Sysco Members:  

Your Teamster Negotiating Committee wrapped up negotiations with Sysco NM today with a Tentative Agreement.  This has been a long, drawn out process that started in the early months of 2019.  After a lot of long sessions of back and forth, your Local 492 Negotiating Committee believes we have reached the point that we have been given the best deal the Company is willing to offer. 

There will be a meeting this Saturday, July 27, 2019 at 4 pm at the Union Hall (4269 Balloon Pk Rd NE, 87109) to go over the details of the Tentative Agreement and answer your questions. We will also pass out the ballots Saturday and you will have the opportunity to vote at the end of the meeting. For those of you that are out of town or cannot make it, we will also holding meeting very soon in Farmington, Las Cruces and Roswell and will also be mailing any unclaimed ballots from the meeting to the address you have on file with Local 492. Make sure to call Darlene at 505-344-1925 ex 12 if you have moved so that you get a ballot.    

We made a lot of headway getting some of the biggest issues addressed that you, the members, told us you had with your contract.  Some of the bigger issues resolved include;

• Several improvements to the vacation language, including:

An increase to 2 weeks’ vacation after only 6 months seniority,

A 5^th week for those with 25 years or more,

The option to cash out all weeks of vacation

Company will now cash out all unused vacation upon voluntary quit, retire, resign or layoff

Paid vacation will now show as “time worked” when calculating overtime hours.

• Part-time employee’s improvements include preventing future overuse of using part-timers and terminating part-timers at will.
• The Union gave the Company the ability to post driver bids as single day (They are not forced to do so but now once again have the ability)
• The Company must now notify the Union before changing WHIP or DIP
• Increased the meal allowance for overnight drivers
• Added new language to the grievance procedure we hope will help better resolve issues that come up in the future.
• Added language to stop the abuse of supervisors working, including requirement to exhaust all those wanting overtime.
• Paid Holidays and Paid Vacations will now be included as “time worked” when calculating overtime hours.    

Some of the smaller issues resolved include:

• Multiple issues resolved regarding posting bids
• Posting overtime sheets
• Driver protection if bid is abolished
• Restructured night differential in the whse
• Extra break for whse employees working long hours

We understand that everyone wanted a huge raise and your committee did everything we could, short of a strike, to get you guys the raises that you wanted.  Although the numbers were not as high as we all had hoped, we were able to get the largest increase that Sysco NM employees have ever seen and it was front loaded. Front loading means that the increase is compounded every year with the next increase and so on. We know that these increases will still be viewed as “not enough” by some of you, but the Company was unwilling to move any further than their last offer. It is now up to you to decide whether this agreement is acceptable. Because of all of the great language improvements made to the contract, the Union is recommending this Tentative Agreement. We hope to see this Saturday!!!!

6/22/2019 - As most of you at Sysco NM know, there was a great turnout of Sysco members tonight who unanimously voted to authorize a strike.

The message tonight was very, very, loud and clear, the Sysco Teamsters are not willing to put up with substandard contracts and are ready to walk the picket line in order to let the company know that they are serious! The Teamster negotiating committee heard the workers voices and we will be carrying that message to the negotiation table on Tuesday when we meet with the company again. 

After the vote tonight,  the  Sysco workers Teamster negotiation committee met for about 90 minutes with the IBT and formulated a plan for the possible strike and events leading up to it. Hopefully the company will give these Sysco Teamster workers the best contract possible, but if they don't, tonight's unanimous vote gives the negotiating committee the mandate needed to do what's necessary. 

Thank you to everybody who came out, especially those members who live hundreds of miles away. Thank you for all of the overwhelming support that we have received from this great Teamster unit. Tonight's meeting was the largest one yet since we started this negotiation process in January. Sysco Teamsters should be very proud of the unity amongst this group that was shown tonight. We have no doubt that the Sysco Teamsters will show their overwhelming unity and solidarity on the picket line as well. 

We will keep the Sysco Teamsters updated as events occur, so make sure your Sysco coworkers are receiving emails and/or texts. Communication is key moving forward as things may happen very quickly (one way or the other) and everyone needs to know what's going on. Knowledge is power!!!

ABF Teamster Donald Wood has been named a Highway Angel by the Truckload Carriers Association for his bravery during a blinding snowstorm when he helped an elderly man whose vehicle had gone off the road.

On January 12, 2019, Brother Wood notice some headlights in the snow around 100 yards in the distance while he waited out a bad snowstorm in Liberal Kansas. He noticed the vehicle was not moving. “I knew something was wrong,” said Donald Wood. So he walked in the blizzard towards the headlights and found a small pickup & camper trailer stuck in a snowdrift with a man and dog by a playground slide. “He was so happy to see me,” recalled Brother Wood. “He said he didn’t know where he was and he was afraid he would freeze to death out there. I told him I would stay with him and get him out.”

Donald had a broken shovel he had found at the motel which he used to dig the man out which took over an hour. The elderly man was then able to wait out the storm after moving his vehicle to the motel parking lot. When the man tried to pay Brother Wood for his bravery and help, but Donald did not accept. “It’s hard to see someone stuck in those kinds of conditions,” said Brother Wood. “I just wanted to help him. As a truck driver, the people we meet along the way are all potential customers for the trucking industry. It’s important for us to show up as a positive role model and help where we can.”

TDC 2019 was another good year for the Teamster drivers that participated. There were five Teamsters that took home 1st place trophies; Donald Wood, Ricky Lucas, Kirk Weis, & Joseph Carrillo from ABF and Mike Johnson from YRC. These skilled Teamsters from New Mexico are all headed to the 2019 National Truck Driving Championships in Pittsburg Pennsylvania. Best of Luck and Skill in Pennsylvania! Congratulations to everyone! Thanks for representing yourselves, your company and your Union so well again this year and we look forward to 2020! View Photos Here

There were only 3 Teamster represented Companies that participated at this year's New Mexico Truck Driving Championships, ABF, TeamOne, and YRC, which included 26 Teamster drivers out of 118 participants, where 10 Teamster Drivers took home 14 awards, competing against non-union companies like FedEx (FedEx had 67 participants), Groendyke, Old Dominion, UPT and XPO.

The 26 Teamster participants sorted by Class: 3 Axle Class: Randall Amberman from ABF Freight, and; Stanley Aragon, Javier Cruz, Jose Hernandez, & Mike Johnson from YRC Freight.  4 Axle Class: Cameron Misner & Brian Thias from TeamOne UPS Logistics, and; Donald Wood from ABF Freight.  5 Axle Class: Robert Delgado & Joey Padilla from ABF Freight. Flatbed Class: Gerald Benavidez from ABF Freight.  Sleeper Class: Ralph Garcia & Ricky Lucas from ABF Freight, and; Michael McAfee of YRC Freight. Straight Truck Class: Kirk Weis from ABF Freight. Tanker Class: David Logan & Robert Zamora from ABF Freight, and; Richard Cruz from YRC Freight. Twin Trailers Class: Joseph Carrillo, Justin Gallant, Fernando Gonzalez, Steven Kelly Russell, & Chad Sullins from ABF Freight, and; David Martinez, Samuel Soto, Joseph Wright from YRC Freight.

ABF had 15 participants and lots of family and supporters at this year’s championships which also included ABF Freight Regional VP Andy Upchurch, West Regional Director Ed Myers, ABF Local Management and employees from the shop, dock, line haul, and office.  ABF won the Best NMTDC Team award and a Fleet safety Award, the over 5,000,000 mile safety award and Line Haul Manager Randy Archer of ABF received the 2019 Volunteer of the Year award.

The individual awards for ABF drivers; Donald Wood won 1st place in the 4 axel class (Donald Wood also won Highway Angel Award, Driver of the Quarter, & Driver of the Year Award), Joey Padilla won 2nd place in 5 axel class, Gerald Benavidez won 3rd place in the Flatbed class, Kirk Weis won 1st place in the Straight Truck class, Ricky Lucus won 1st place in the Sleeper class & Ralph Garcia won 2nd place in the Sleeper class, Robert Zamora won 3rd place in the Tanker class, and finally Joseph Carrillo not only won 1st place in Twin Trailer class, Joseph also won Grand Champion! Congratulations to Brother Carrillo, who is also a Teamster Local 492 Executive Board Trustee and the annual NM Teamster Appreciation Day Lead Event Coordinator.

TeamOne UPS Logistics had fantastic family support for their 2 tough competitors. Brian Thias won 3rd place in the 4 Axle Class, TeamOne also took home a Fleet Safety Award for 1,000,000 to 5,000,000 safe miles.

YRC had tons of family and supporters for their 9 competitors from Line Haul and City operations. Mike Johnson won his spot at the 2019 National Truck Driving Championships in Pittsburg Pa. by taking home a 1st place Award in the 3 Axle Class.

Click Here to view all 2019 the scores.

Go down memory lane below:

2017 New Mexico Truck Driving Championships

2016 New Mexico Truck Driving Championships

2015 New Mexico Truck Driving Championships

2014 New Mexico Truck Driving Championships

2013 New Mexico Truck Driving Championships

2012 New Mexico Truck Driving Championships

2011 New Mexico Truck Driving Championships

2010 New Mexico Truck Driving Championships

One of 27 Supplements Rejected, Agreement Not In Effect Until Approved

Teamster-represented workers at YRC Freight, Holland and New Penn have voted to approve the national master portion of the new YRCW National Master Freight Agreement that raises wages, restores a week of vacation and protects benefits.

The national master portion of the agreement, which covers about 25,000 workers, was ratified by a 60 percent to 40 percent margin. However, all but one of the 27 regional supplemental contracts (Joint Council 40) also passed. The national contract will not go into effect until the Joint Council 40 supplement is resolved. The parties currently have an extension agreement in effect. Employees should report to work as usual.

“Over the past decade our members have sacrificed so much to keep the YRCW companies operating, and this contract restores the week of vacation and provides $4 in wage increases, among other improvements,” said Ernie Soehl, Director of the Teamsters National Freight Division.

“This contract should improve the livelihoods of our YRCW Teamsters for the next five years,” said Jim Hoffa, Teamsters General President. “Freight is the backbone of our great union and this contract recognizes our members for their hard work.”

The improvements include:

• $4.00 in wage increases over five years for the vast majority of workers (an 18% increase for most drivers and dockworkers) including a $1.00 wage increase retroactive to April 1, 2019 (a 4.5% increase for most drivers and dockworkers);
• Significant increases for dock-only, clerical, maintenance employees, janitors and porters hired after February 2014 including a minimum of an immediate $1.00 wage increase retroactive to April 1, 2019;
• Restoration of the week of vacation that was given up years ago, effective April 1, 2019;
• Protection of health and welfare benefits with no employee premium co-pays. Up to $0.50 per hour increases each year for most funds. The company agreed to provide other funds with fixed guaranteed amounts to maintain benefits;
• Improved language to curb excessive executive bonuses; and
• Prohibitions against using driverless trucks.

Everyone needs to be signed up to the website because emails through the website are going to be our primary mode of communication over the next few months. ***If you know an YRC member of Local 492 who is not receiving email updates from Local 492, forward this email to them and tell them to CLICK HERE to sign up or call Trey White at 505-344-1925 ex 15***

Visit the 492 YRC Freight Negotiations 2019 Page