Vote no
             vote no  
                          Vote no   


 


 

Dues Meeting

A meeting has been scheduled for Monday, January 28, 2013 @ 2:00 pm to discuss the upcoming election and to also discuss the dues structure recommended by the Constitution Committee.

This type of election effects only the Union Security language of our CBA

This is the final avenue that the freeriders have at their disposal to avoid their obligation to pay their fair share. Let's show them that this is a big mistake and plays into managements hands by  crippling our Local financially.

Plain and simple, if we do not have the finances to fight management, hire Legal representation or pay our monthly obligations, we cease to exist. That is exactly what management and a former Supervisor hope for.

That would serve both of their interests and ignore your interests completely by placing your future back in the hands of  a management team that has proven to be concerned only with discipline of the workforce for being a Union Shop.

We are awaiting a very important Arbitration decision and it would be foolish to throw away all the hard work and time that went into the Operator Seniority grievance especially when we feel very strongly about the potential outcome and it's potential application on future grievances regarding seniority.

Now is not the time to allow this certain individual, with ulterior motives to rob you of your voice just so he can continue to avoid paying his dues. The Executive Board is very aware of the fact that the membership wants the Union Security language to be enforced as stated in the CBA, and it will be.

Please make every possible effort to attend, it is your future!

"Why should I pay union dues?”  A good answer to that question is to think of the Union as an Insurance provider, and your dues as the premium.  Like insurance after a disaster, the Union will work to be there for you when you need it. 

NOLA Times-Picayune on 60 Minutes

The New Orleans Times-Picayune’s 2012 move to three-day-a-week publication and increased emphasis on 24-7 news coverage on its NOLA.com website was the subject of a story on Sunday’s (Jan. 6) edition of “60 Minutes.”

According to the Paper “The Times-Picayune’s parent company, privately held Advance Publications, announced the changes, which included staffing cutbacks and a corporate restructuring, in May. The publishing schedule of three days a week – with an early Sunday edition distributed on Saturday, day-after tabloid coverage of New Orleans Saints games and special holiday issues – began in October.”

As I watched the program, I was very impressed with the outpouring of community support for a daily paper. While each interest group had their own concerns, the lack of high-speed internet access is a major, yet understated problem, was a common denominator.

According to a new report by the Federal Communications Commission, about 19 million Americans still have no access to high-speed Internet. About 14.5 million of those without access, or about 5 percent of the total population, live in rural areas, where Internet providers do not offer service because "there is no business case to offer broadband.”

Nearly a third of residents on tribal lands lack access to DSL or cable broadband and about 80 percent of schools and libraries receiving federal funding for Internet service say their connections “do not fully meet their needs," according to the report.

It is more than about just access, however. Only 40 percent of Americans who have access to DSL or cable Internet service actually use them. Those who don’t get high-speed internet list the following reasons: lack of affordability, a lack of digital literacy, and “a perception that the Internet is not relevant or useful to them,” according to the FCC report.

How does this bode for informing the public on an all-digital format? Not much I fear.

California Vacation Law

California Labor Law protects your right to keep vested vacation pay. Under California Law, vacation and PTO are wages that have been earned, but not yet paid to the employee. As such, once you earn the vacation, it can not be taken away, and "use it or lose it" policies are illegal.
There is no requirement that your employer have a vacation policy or plan. However, if they do have one, it must comply with the law.

California Labor Law for Vacation

California Labor Code Section 227.3 states that:
Unless otherwise provided by a collective-bargaining agreement, whenever a contract of employment or employer policy provides for paid vacations, and an employee is terminated without having taken off his vested vacation time, all vested vacation shall be paid to him as wages at his final rate in accordance with such contract of employment or employer policy respecting eligibility or time served; provided, however, that an employment contract or employer policy shall not provide for forfeiture of vested vacation time upon termination. The Labor Commissioner or a designated representative, in the resolution of any dispute with regard to vested vacation time, shall apply the principles of equity and fairness.

Probation Periods and Caps

The employer is allowed to establish a probationary period in which you do not earn any vacation. This period can be as long as the employer wants -- 6 months, 1 year, 10 years, anything. The law only applies to your vacation once you have started to earn it under the policy implemented by the employer.
The employer is also allowed to implement a cap on how much vacation you earn without taking it. For instance, an employer can set a policy that you can only accrue 4 weeks on vacation. From that point on, you will not accrue any new vacation until you actually take some vacation. This policy is legal because it is not a "use it or lose it" policy. It is a "use it or stop getting more until you take it" policy. Thus, an employer is allowed to stop you from accruing more vacation, but they can not take away what you have.

Examples of Illegal Policies

A policy that requires that you take all your vacation within the year or lose it is illegal. However, if they employer pays out the unused portion at the end of the year, then that is legal.
A policy in which you lose your vacation if you quit or otherwise leave employment is illegal. All unused vacation time must be paid out upon termination.
A policy that uses "floating holidays" that can not carry over to the next year is illegal. It does not matter what the employer calls the vacation time. They can call it PTO, they can call it Floating Holidays, they can call it Quiet Me Time. If the time is to be used for personal reasons of the employee and scheduled at his convenience without restrictions on the use, then it is vacation time and must be treated as such.

Typical Problems or Issues

Sick pay and fixed holidays are not considered vacation time. Sick days can be separate from vacation days. Because sick days are subject to restrictions on taking them -- namely, you must be sick, they are not considered vacation days. An employer can have a policy of allowing you only 5 sick days a year that do not carry over. Such a policy for vacation would be illegal, but legal for sick days.
If the employer lumps both sick and vacation together into "PTO" or some other type of general leave plan, then all the time will be considered vacation time and must roll over from year to year and be paid upon termination.
Vacation must be accrued in a pro-rata fashion. That is, if your employer has a policy of accruing "12 days a year," each month you would accrue 1 day, each week you would accrue approximately 1/4 of a day. Any policy in which you accrue the full amount at the end of they year would be illegal. Each pay period that you work in, you accrue a pro-rate share of the vacation

Heavens Newest Angels..........

Charlotte Bacon, 2/22/06, female (age 6)

Daniel Barden, 9/25/05, male (age 7)

Olivia Engel, 7/18/06, female (age 6)

Josephine Gay, 12/11/05, female (age 7)

Ana M. Marquez-Greene, 04/04/06, female (age 6)

Dylan Hockley, 03/08/06, male (age 6)

Madeleine F. Hsu, 07/10/06, female (age 6)

Catherine V. Hubbard, 06/08/06, female (age 6)

Chase Kowalski, 10/31/05, male (age 7)

 Jesse Lewis, 06/30/06, male (age 6)

 James Mattioli, 03/22/06, male (age 6)

 Grace McDonnell, 11/04/05, female (age 7)

 Emilie Parker, 05/12/06, female (age 6)

 Jack Pinto, 05/06/06, male (age 6)

Charlotte Bacon, 2/22/06, female (age 6)

Daniel Barden, 9/25/05, male (age 7)

Olivia Engel, 7/18/06, female (age 6)

Josephine Gay, 12/11/05, female (age 7)

Ana M. Marquez-Greene, 04/04/06, female (age 6)

Dylan Hockley, 03/08/06, male (age 6)

Madeleine F. Hsu, 07/10/06, female (age 6)

Catherine V. Hubbard, 06/08/06, female (age 6)

Chase Kowalski, 10/31/05, male (age 7)

Jesse Lewis, 06/30/06, male (age 6)

James Mattioli, 03/22/06, male (age 6)

Grace McDonnell, 11/04/05, female (age 7)

Emilie Parker, 05/12/06, female (age 6)

Jack Pinto, 05/06/06, male (age 6)

Noah Pozner, 11/20/06, male (age 6)

Caroline Previdi, 09/07/06, female (age 6)

Jessica Rekos, 05/10/06, female (age 6)

Avielle Richman, 10/17/06, female (age 6)

Benjamin Wheeler, 9/12/06, male (age 6)

Allison N. Wyatt, 07/03/06, female (age 6)

Noah Pozner, 11/20/06, male (age 6)

Caroline Previdi, 09/07/06, female (age 6)

Jessica Rekos, 05/10/06, female (age 6)

Avielle Richman, 10/17/06, female (age 6)

Benjamin Wheeler, 9/12/06, male (age 6)

Allison N. Wyatt, 07/03/06, female (age 6)

Love and Cherish the little ones.................................

Los Angeles Times Pressmens 20 Year Club: Eddie Santos Rest In Peace

Los Angeles Times Pressmens 20 Year Club: Eddie Santos Rest In Peace

Have you contacted your Representatives?

Dear Mr. Pineda, Thank you for contacting me regarding Social Security. I value your views, and enjoy hearing from from you.    Social Security’s solvency is of the utmost importance and privatization is  not the answer.   Seniors have worked hard to earn their Social Security benefits and have  a right to a secure retirement. Social Security and Medicare are not handouts; they are benefits that American workers deserve.  You can be sure that I will continue to oppose attempts to privatize Social Security.  Congress should pay back the Trust Fund through fiscally responsible budgeting and work on a  bipartisan basis to strengthen Social Security without ballooning the deficit, harming the middle class,  or cutting guaranteed benefits. I am the proud sponsor of legislation that will strengthen Social Security by eliminating the millions of  dollars in insurance company fraud perpetrated on the system annually.  This legislation would also reduce the workload at local offices. Know that I will continue to be a strong voice for a sound Social Security system.                          Sincerely,                                                      Rep.  Linda T. Sánchez

Giving Thanks to All!

Happy Thanksgiving to All from the Officers and Members of GCC/IBT LOCAL 140-N

In Solidarity!
God Bless!

I'm Standing With Hostess Workers, Will You?

Wall street vultures are blaming workers for getting rid of your sweets-and that's just not right.

What's happening here is a classic Bain Capital-style assault-blame the little guy to cover the greedy corporate policies that are gutting the middle class.

It's not just happening to the workers who make the great products Americans love. What's happening at Hostess is happening to workers all over this country. It's wrong. And it has to stop.

Hostess workers believe in their company, and we need to stand with them -- sign our pledge to support workers, not greedy CEOs who will cut and run for a quick buck.
http://go.aflcio.org/Hostess-Greed

Meeting Flyer 11-19

General Meeting Reminder

GCC/IBT Local 140-N will be holding it's year end meeting on Monday, November 19, 2102 at 2:00 pm at our Hall located at 750 Stanford Ave. Los Angeles Ca. 90021. Parking is around the corner, in back, follow the signs.

On hand will be Attorneys specializing in Labor, Workers Compensation and FMLA to deliver presentations regarding their areas of legal expertise and following our meeting, to answer your questions.

Mr. Larry Mitchell from the Interlocal Pension Fund will also be in attendance to share information on the Fund and hopefully inspire the remaining members to invest. There is no other plan like it in the world and we are the only organization offering such a diverse and safe investment exclusive of any employer money! That is why our plan did not suffer as did most Retirement Funds because WE control the fund, NOT the employer!

With the approval of the IRS, the Interlocal Pension Fund is now available for investing to our Teamster Brothers and Sisters. That simply means, there is an influx of new money being invested in the fund and that insures its longevity for when you retire. Not in, get in!

There are many topics to discuss, like Dues restructuring, a fair amount for everyone, Grievance and Arbitration, what cases are pending and whats being done. Vacant Board Positions, this is your Local, get involved! etc. These subjects and more will all be covered at this meeting so don't miss it!

Apprentices and Part-timers are invited to attend! 

NO FREERIDERS OR BECK OBJECTORS ALLOWED!

HAIL TO THE CHIEF

                        CONGRATULATIONS ON A SECOND TERM MR. PRESIDENT

Meeting Reminder!

Don't forget to join our brothers and sisters from Teamsters Local 572 in Monrovia tomorrow morning. Interlocal Pension Fund Chairman, John Agonbroad will present an update on the Pension plan. The meeting will be at 10:00am and Continental Breakfast at 9:00am.

Former  GCC/IBT Local 404 on Duarte Ave. in Monrovia is the location.

If you participate in the ILPF you should make an effort to be in attendance.  See you in the morning!

Fraternally,
President Pineda

BUY AMERICAN PRODUCTS!

"He, therefore, who is now against domestic manufacture, must be for reducing us either to dependence on that foreign nation, or to be clothed in skins, and to live like wild beasts in dens and caverns. I am not one of these; experience has taught me that manufactures are now as necessary to our independence as to our comfort; and if those who quote me as of a different opinion, will keep pace with me in purchasing nothing foreign where an equivalent of domestic fabric can be obtained, without regard to difference of price, it will not be our fault if we do not soon have a supply at home equal to our demand, and wrest that weapon of distress from the hand which has wielded it."

 The Letters of Thomas Jefferson: 1743-1826. To Benjamin Austin Monticello, January 9, 1816
"Thanks Brother Laird"

HEY GOVERNOR ROMNEY, PAY ATTENTION, STOP SHIPPING AMERICAN JOBS OVERSEAS WHERE YOU KEEP YOUR MONEY! 

RE-ELECT PRESIDENT OBAMA ON NOVEMBER 6

 GET OUT THE VOTE !