Teamsters Union Lauds CARES Act Relief For YRCW Workers

Loan Will Protect Livelihoods of 30,000 Workers Impacted by Pandemic

 

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NEWS PROVIDED BY

International Brotherhood of Teamsters 

Jul 01, 2020, 06:13 ET

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WASHINGTON, July 1, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- A $700 million loan provided by the United States Treasury under the CARES Act will help YRC Worldwide, Inc.'s operating companies pay its employees' health care and other benefits and get through this pandemic while protecting the livelihoods of about 24,000 Teamsters and their families, Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa said today.

"I want to thank Congress for passing the CARES Act, and the President and the Treasury Secretary for their help in making this essential bridge loan possible," Hoffa said. "They recognized the urgency and acted swiftly to avoid our members' health benefits from being cut and, in the long term, to protect 24,000 Teamster jobs at YRC Freight, Holland, Reddaway and New Penn."

The CARES Act assistance will be used to pay for employee health care and pension costs and other obligations. YRCW employs 30,000 freight workers, including 24,000 Teamsters.

"I echo General President Hoffa in thanking the government for providing this loan and protecting our members' livelihoods" said Ernie Soehl, Teamsters National Freight Director. "Like so many Teamsters who are essential workers, our members working at the YRCW operating companies have continued to keep our nation's supply chain moving to serve millions of Americans," Soehl added. "They are true heroes. This assistance gives them some peace of mind moving forward and we hope it gives YRCW the economic stability it needs in the months and years to come."

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Visit www.teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and "like" us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/teamsters.

Contact:
David White, (202) 439-1904
dwhite@teamster.org

SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters

FedEx Employee Fired, NJ Corrections Officer Suspended After Video Surfaces Of Pair Mocking George Floyd’s Death During Protest In Gloucester County

By CBS3 Staff

June 10, 2020 at 7:13 pm

Filed Under:FedEx, George Floyd protest, Gloucester County, Local TV, NJ Department of Corrections

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FRANKLINVILLE, N.J. (CBS) — A FedEx employee caught on video mocking George Floyd’s death during a Black Lives Matter protest has been fired. A New Jersey Corrections Officer was also suspended following the incident.

The cellphone video was taken during a Black Lives Matter rally held Monday in Franklinville, Gloucester County.

One of the men was seen kneeling on another man who was lying down along Delsea Drive, in a pose similar to the one former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin used on Floyd.

FedEx called the video “appalling and offensive.”

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“The behavior depicted in the video, which involved a FedEx employee, is appalling and offensive,” FedEx said in a statement. “The employee in question was immediately removed from all FedEx work duties while our investigation is concluded and all internal procedures are followed. FedEx holds its team members to a high standard of personal conduct, and we do not tolerate the kind of appalling and offensive behavior depicted in this video. The individual involved is no longer employed by FedEx. We stand with those who support justice and equality.”

In a tweet, the New Jersey Department of Corrections said, “We have been made aware that one of our officers participated in the filming of a hateful and disappointing video that mocked the killing of George Floyd. The individual has been suspended from their post and banned from NJDOC facilities during a thorough and expedited investigation.”

Governor Phil Murphy

✔@GovMurphy

Mocking George Floyd’s murder in effort to belittle the calls for justice from our Black and Brown communities is repugnant. I condemn this behavior in the strongest terms possible.

We won’t let the actions of a few distract from our progress toward dismantling systemic racism. https://twitter.com/NJ_DOC/status/1270440865262186497 …

NJ Department of Corrections

✔@NJ_DOC

4,326

6:47 PM - Jun 9, 2020

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New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy also condemned the officer for his actions, tweeting “we won’t let the actions of  a few distract from our progress toward dismantling systematic racism.”

The act has since gone viral on social media and members from the community are in an uproar.

“It’s a terrible situation for someone to do such a terrible thing,” Franklinville resident Sophia Dagostino said.

“I was furious, I was disgusted, I’m horrified. I personally came out here to drown out their message,” resident Sarah Hill said.

Since the incident, the Black Lives Matter acronym and other messages have been painted in front of the property, and protesters continue to show up in small numbers.

“It’s sad to see that we’re dealing with this sort of stuff today,” Dagostino said.

Some Black Lives Matter Supporters Believe ‘End Racism Now’ Mural On Fishtown Street Served Only As Publicity Stunt

At least one friend of the corrections officer, who he refers to as Jimmy, says their anti-protest was against the Black Lives Matter movement and in support of law enforcement.

He didn’t want to appear on camera but says he had no idea what was in store. But by the time it happened, it was too late. He says he’s since cut all ties with his former friend.

CBS3 showed up to the officer’s house Wednesday while he was mowing the lawn, but he quickly disappeared and did not speak.

Another protest is planned for next Saturday at 11 a.m. Police say it was one the docket before the incident but they are now anticipating an even larger crowd.

CBS3’s Alecia Reid contributed to this report.

This is What We Were Talking About

The first photo below is from a former Fresno FedEx driver who left a year ago to work for ABF than for UPS. After a year between both carriers, he has accrued a total of $1,186.44 per month. My Fedex pension after 30 years is a whopping $216.97 per month!

The next photo is from another FedEx driver who now works for KeHe in Chino Ca. who's  pension,  after five years vested, his monthly pension has climbed to $2095.08. At Kehe they negotiated their first contract 5 years ago. Since it was their first Tesmsters contact,  they received the 2 for 1 vesting. This was offered to us if we had voted "Yes" for Teamsters representation! But many believed FedEx managers BS. This is one reason you see drivers with 40 years plus still here at FedEx. Why? Simple. They can't afford to retire!

Be Safe.

Rudy

One Year Ago Today

FedEx Freight Drivers in Stockton Say "Yes!" to the Teamsters, Again.

In a shocking turn of events, FedEx Freight drivers in Stockton, Ca voted overwhelmingly to continue their union membership on April 26, 2019.

The decertification vote followed a substantial anti-union effort by the company which included showings of anti-union videos, group anti-union meetings, one-on-one anti-union ride alongs, as well as a barrage of new hires in an attempt to stack the vote in their favor. The company has also delayed yearly raises for the Stockton drivers citing ongoing negotiations with the union even though non-union service centers received their annual raises on time.

Despite the company's vigorous attempts to sway the vote, the drivers voted 31-16 in favor of remaining in one of the nation's strongest unions, the Teamsters. The landslide victory sends a clear message to the company, your belittling voice of intimidation will never be as loud or as strong as the voices of organized and empowered employees. 

The Fedex Stockton drivers and the Teamsters look forward to ongoing negotiations with the company.