We were asked to add a link for our "UNINSURED" employees. This will make a statement to our show management
that the people who lost benefits are not just a number. These employees had their benifits ripped out from underneath them. This is also for the employees who wish to
support the "UNINSURED" employees by wearing them.
http://www.uninsuredwristband.com/
Thank to www.ltlboards.com for this link.
The FedEx Watch Dogs
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Friday, June 19, 2009
A Letter To Congress And U.S Senate From Rep.Linda Sanchez
Dear Colleague,
In December 2008, I proudly served on a Blue Ribbon Commission Panel convened to hear
testimony on the struggle to keep FedEx jobs in the Los Angeles area in the middle class. What I
learned from workers, economic experts, clergy, and community leaders was that FedEx has
systematically eroded its workers wages, insurance and retirement benefits to the point where
workers are now on the brink of falling out of the middle class.
The Blue Ribbon Commission Panel learned of how difficult it is for a FedEx worker employed
full-time to pay for health coverage costs for his family. The costs go up while the coverage
goes down. We learned that FedEx changed worker retirement plans which resulted in
individual losses of hundreds of thousands of dollars in retirement income to many workers.
Even if employees work longer and retire later, they will still end up with less money. We
learned that FedEx routinely retaliates against and intimidates its workers who are attempting to
form a union. We learned how FedEx manipulated federal law in 1996 to strip the FedEx
Express workers of their right to freedom of association and make it harder for the workers to
orgamze.
After hearing and compiling all of the compelling testimony, the Blue Ribbon Commission Panel
is now issuing this report with our recommendations on how to keep FedEx jobs in Los Angeles
in the middle class. Our recommended course of action includes calling on FedEx to become
neutral and allow the workers to unionize if they so choose and for Congress to approve
legislation that would return the FedEx workers rights to freedom of association by eliminating
the 1996 "FedEx Special Deal" so workers may exercise their rights to unionize ifthey want to.
I believe this report will be as eye-opening to you as the testimony was to us, and I encourage
you to take some time during the upcoming weeks to read it.
Sincerely,
Linda T. Sanchez
Member of Congress
The Full Blue Ribbon Report Click Here
In December 2008, I proudly served on a Blue Ribbon Commission Panel convened to hear
testimony on the struggle to keep FedEx jobs in the Los Angeles area in the middle class. What I
learned from workers, economic experts, clergy, and community leaders was that FedEx has
systematically eroded its workers wages, insurance and retirement benefits to the point where
workers are now on the brink of falling out of the middle class.
The Blue Ribbon Commission Panel learned of how difficult it is for a FedEx worker employed
full-time to pay for health coverage costs for his family. The costs go up while the coverage
goes down. We learned that FedEx changed worker retirement plans which resulted in
individual losses of hundreds of thousands of dollars in retirement income to many workers.
Even if employees work longer and retire later, they will still end up with less money. We
learned that FedEx routinely retaliates against and intimidates its workers who are attempting to
form a union. We learned how FedEx manipulated federal law in 1996 to strip the FedEx
Express workers of their right to freedom of association and make it harder for the workers to
orgamze.
After hearing and compiling all of the compelling testimony, the Blue Ribbon Commission Panel
is now issuing this report with our recommendations on how to keep FedEx jobs in Los Angeles
in the middle class. Our recommended course of action includes calling on FedEx to become
neutral and allow the workers to unionize if they so choose and for Congress to approve
legislation that would return the FedEx workers rights to freedom of association by eliminating
the 1996 "FedEx Special Deal" so workers may exercise their rights to unionize ifthey want to.
I believe this report will be as eye-opening to you as the testimony was to us, and I encourage
you to take some time during the upcoming weeks to read it.
Sincerely,
Linda T. Sanchez
Member of Congress
The Full Blue Ribbon Report Click Here
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
You Asked For An Answer...
"Could you please explain how the central states fund is doing? How much money is left? Who's hand is in the cookie jar?"
Thanks
3rd Floor
If you have any questions about the finances of the Teamsters Central States Pension Fund, I would recommend that you read the quarterly reports of the Independent Special Counsel that monitors the fund’s activities under the Fitzimmons consent decree. Here’s a link for the most recent report:
https://www.centralstatesfunds.org/CSF/Pdf/Arbitration_Letters/6-1-2009-1st2009.pdf
On page 4 of this report, the independent special counsel noted that the “…vast majority of the Fund’s active members were covered by collective bargaining agreements that have come into compliance with the Fund’s rehabilitation plan. Almost all of the compliant employers and bargaining units have agreed to adopt the rehabilitation plan’s Primary Schedule (generally requiring 7-8%annual contribution increases for five years and maintaining current benefit levels.)
On page 5, he notes that, “Although it thus appears the Pension Fund has reported progress in securing increased employer contributions and controlling benefits as required of “critical status” plans under the PPA, (the Pension Protection Act of 2006) the financial information presented below also makes clear that the Fund has suffered serious investment losses in the general stock market and economic downturn that occurred during 2008 and the first quarter of 2009.”
Finally, the response to your question is on page 8: “The financial report prepared by Fund staff for the three months ending March 31, 2009 shows net assets as of that date of $15,664,384,000.
It is clear to anybody who doesn’t have an ax to grind that there is no criminal “hand is in the cookie jar.” The CSPF is certainly in financial trouble, like many multi-employer Taft-Hartley benefit funds. But the trustees who direct its investments are complying with all legal requirements to protect the pensions of workers.
THE FEDEX WATCH DOGS
Thanks
3rd Floor
If you have any questions about the finances of the Teamsters Central States Pension Fund, I would recommend that you read the quarterly reports of the Independent Special Counsel that monitors the fund’s activities under the Fitzimmons consent decree. Here’s a link for the most recent report:
https://www.centralstatesfunds.org/CSF/Pdf/Arbitration_Letters/6-1-2009-1st2009.pdf
On page 4 of this report, the independent special counsel noted that the “…vast majority of the Fund’s active members were covered by collective bargaining agreements that have come into compliance with the Fund’s rehabilitation plan. Almost all of the compliant employers and bargaining units have agreed to adopt the rehabilitation plan’s Primary Schedule (generally requiring 7-8%annual contribution increases for five years and maintaining current benefit levels.)
On page 5, he notes that, “Although it thus appears the Pension Fund has reported progress in securing increased employer contributions and controlling benefits as required of “critical status” plans under the PPA, (the Pension Protection Act of 2006) the financial information presented below also makes clear that the Fund has suffered serious investment losses in the general stock market and economic downturn that occurred during 2008 and the first quarter of 2009.”
Finally, the response to your question is on page 8: “The financial report prepared by Fund staff for the three months ending March 31, 2009 shows net assets as of that date of $15,664,384,000.
It is clear to anybody who doesn’t have an ax to grind that there is no criminal “hand is in the cookie jar.” The CSPF is certainly in financial trouble, like many multi-employer Taft-Hartley benefit funds. But the trustees who direct its investments are complying with all legal requirements to protect the pensions of workers.
THE FEDEX WATCH DOGS
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