Teamsters Local 324

REMINDER: The next General Membership Meetings are on February 16, 2012 at 9:00AM and 7:00PM

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Local 324 EXECUTIVE BOARD:

Chris R. Muhs ~ Secretary-Treasurer / Principal Officer

Tony Scales (WinCo Foods) ~ President

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*** The Oregon Student Access Commission Scholarship Guide Booklets for the Clyde C. Crosby / Joseph M. Edgar Scholarship 2012-2013 school year are at the Local. All applicants must apply online at www.OregonStudentAid.gov . To be eligible, applicants must be children or dependent stepchildren of active, retired, disabled, or deceased members of Local Unions affiliated with the Joint Council of Teamsters No. 37. Qualifying members must have been active one-plus years as of February 1 immediately preceding the March scholarship deadline. Also, applicants must be graduating high school seniors with a GPA of 3.00 or better. Come by the Local to review the booklets.

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On July 23, 2011, 7 teams showed up for a 2 person scramble of which all JC37 Teamsters, current and retired, were invited. There were fun prizes, a raffle, and lunch was provided. Thanks to all that came for the rebirth of Teamster Golf. This event was organized by Raynel Whitney, a UPS Driver in Corvallis and the event was presented by Teamsters Local 324. Next year, the event will be held again with hopes of a much larger turnout.

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LOCAL 324, along with other Locals in Oregon, showed our solidarity on Monday, March 7, 2011 at the Oregon State Capitol during a JOBS RALLY. Governor Kitzhaber addressed the crowd and promised to support pro-worker legislation and vowed that Oregon would NOT follow Wisconsin's lead regarding the degradation of Collective Bargaining Rights and UNION representation. CLICK HERE to read an article from the International Brotherhood of Teamsters about the event.

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Members that signed up for this coverage received a letter dated November 21, 2011 stating that the plan had been cancelled effective November 1, 2010. Local 324 is NOT responsible for premiums and Aflac repeatedly told us that their billing issues were internal and that the coverage would not lapse. We have notified top management at Aflac that their actions are unacceptable and are actively fighting the plan termination. We will keep everyone posted and will hold Aflac accountable. NEW!!!! Aflac is now willing to issue new policies to all effected members and begin the policies and billing moving forward. They are also willing to honor the same prices and pre-existing conditions will not be excluded.

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Our 7th Annual Labor Day Picnic was on Saturday, September 3rd, 2011 and was a huge success! More than 365 people attended and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.The food was amazing!! Clif Kauwe of WILDPINEAPPLE GRILL & COFFEE 2 catered the event again this year. Clif is a retired Teamster from WinCo Foods and runs the business. We'd like to thank everyone for coming out and for all the donations we received from our members' employers.

He can be reached at 503-588-8040 and his grill is located at 1255 Howard St in South Salem.

Jill Sherwood from Ventura Foods receives a certificate for 34 years of membership and service as a steward for more than 12 years during Local 324's General Membership Meeting on December 15, 2011. Jill's last day of work is on December 30, 2011 - Congratulations Jill!!! From left to right: President Tony Scales, Ventura Foods retiree Jill Sherwood, Secretary-Treasurer Chris R. Muhs.

Christopher Huey (February, 2011), Mary Nichols (March, 2011), Michael Sim (May, 2011), Eric Vanpelt (May, 2011), Marty Melton (May, 2011), Richard Newton (July, 2011), Rebecca Reppeto (July, 2011), Clayton Chadwick (March, 2011), Ralph Dimmitt (May, 2011), Dennis Nelson (July, 2011), Wayne Robertson (June, 2011), Keith Miller (October, 2011), Gary Smith (June, 2011), William Arnold (May, 2011), Charlotte Wertz (September, 2011), Colin Carlson (July, 2011), William Buhl (December, 2011), Jeffrey Hanslovan (December, 2011), David Lewis (December, 2011), Linda Mcphee (June, 2011), Steven Fox (July, 2011), Jill Sherwood (December, 2011), Bruce Teeters (October, 2011), Michael Venti (January, 2012), Patrick Markee (January, 2012)

Bargaining Unit News

To request a copy of your contract, click here

Americold Logistics - Salem & Woodburn

On July 20, 2011, our Americold members voted to accept a four year Agreement that was fully recommended by this Local.

Cash & Carry

Contracts are finally in and have been distributed by hand.

Deluxe Ice Cream

Foster Farms has purchased Deluxe Ice Cream and Vitafreze in a court administered auction after the prior Parent Company, Matterhorn Grouop Inc., filed for bankruptcy. Although Foster Farms was not required to negotiate with us because the existing language did not contain successorship language, they still did as a contingency of their purchase. After meeting with Local 324 to negotiate a proposal, the proposal went to the members for a vote on Wednesday, November 17th from 11am to 3pm. The proposal passed by a high margin. As for Vitafreze of Sacramento, CA., the Bakers Union Local 85 also met with Foster Farms and ratified an agreement. With both Locals and companies agreeing to new contracts, the sale will go through and Foster Farms plans to keep the existing work force. In Salem, the new contract will be for 3 1/2 years and maintains the previous language, pension, health and welfare, has no concessions and meager pay increases. All in all, the members of Local 324 will keep their jobs and have renewed job security with a company that is well established and committed to making a long term presence in the Salem area. We would like to thank the members for their incredible solidarity and involvement and especially shop stewards John Carter and Marty Gardner. This was a group effort that was hard fought and paid off. Congratulations go out again to steward John Carter who was selected by the Executive Board to replace Jaime Olvera as the newest Trustee of Local 324. John was sworn in on the Executive Board on Thursday, December 16, 2010 at 5:00pm.

Farmers Cooperative Creamery - McMinnville

On Wednesday, July 13, 2011, a vote was collected by the majority of members at Farmers Cooperative Creamery for a unanimous ratification of the Company's offer that was fully recommended by the Local. Letters are being sent out to the entire membership at FCC to explain the new three year Collective Bargaining Agreement that has wage and pension increases each year. Our thanks to Steward Jody Reynolds for all his help at the negotiating table and to our members for their support.

Interstate Brands Corp. (Hostess)

Hostess has filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy. Interstate Brands Corporation - International Brotherhood of Teamsters National Negotiating Committee ( IBC-IBTNNC ) issues an important Hostess Update.

NW Cascade / Honeybucket

The Company shared their financial documents with Local 324 to prove their need for concessions. Local 313 Members have already agreed to concessions in Washington. Local 324 met with our Members at NW Cascade on Monday, October 18, 2010 at 6:00PM at the Company's yard in Salem to discuss the Company's concessionary proposal and put it to a vote. Although concessions are never easy, the members ultimately voted to accept the proposal for a 2 year agreement.

Oak Harbor

"The Oak Harbor Report"- Click here for updated web site
Oak Harbor retaliating against Teamsters! Click here for news release
ILRF Reports Numerous Labor Rights Violations Committed by Oak Harbor Freight Lines
Report on Oak Harbor/International Labor Rights (Adobe PDF)

Professional Mechanical

Members at Professional Mechanical in Albany agreed to another two (2) year extension without concessions and wage improvements each year.

City of Turner

A Union contract proposal for a three year Agreement was accepted by the Turner City Council on July 28, 2011 and unanimously voted on and accepted by the members on August 8th, 2011. Copies of the Agreement will be sent out to our Members.

United Parcel Service

Telematics is now in Salem...drivers need to be aware that Big Brother is watching every second and you need to make sure you are doing everything you can every day to follow methods. The contract doesn't allow discipline souly on technology, but if you show up on radar, the Company may follow you to observe alleged violations. REMINDER!!!! Follow methods and utilize proper delivery techniques; if you have late air, HAVE late air!!! If you try to cover things by creative sheeting....you could lose your job!!! NEW FORMS for UPS over 9.5 issues. Click here for details about what qualifies a grievance. Click here for the 9.5 grievance form. (Adobe Acrobat Reader required.)

USF Reddaway

Back on March 19th, 2010, the Salem Terminal was closed. The Newport Terminal had already been closed and all employees under Local 324's jurisdiction had been transferred to other Terminals under different Local jurisdictions.

Ventura Foods

On January 28, 2011, a vote on the Company's final contract proposal was held at the Local. Local 324 fully recommended the offer and it passed overwelmingly. The new contract is for 3 years and has modest pay increases and caps on Member's healthcare costs with pre-tax provisions commencing in April of 2011. It also contains additional language for sick pay on the first day of an illness, 10 hour guarantees for Members on 10 hour shifts, a ratification bonus and time-and-a-half pay for holiday work. The Members stood strong back on January 15th when they unanimously rejected the Company's last offer. They sent a strong message to the Company that they were united in their effort to achieve a stronger contract and not willing to compromise. The Company listened and Local 324 had the backing to achieve the victory. Our thanks to shop-steward, Jill Sherwood, who works at Ventura Foods and attended all of the negotiations. Our thanks also go out to the Members; you were actively involved in the process, in meetings, and ultimately, it was your solidarity that made the final contract possible. UPDATED 1-28-2011

Willamette Beverage (Pepsi) Newport, OR

Local 324 was in Newport on February 24, 2011 to vote the latest proposal that was opened up by petition. Ballots were counted on February 26th and the members chose to move to the Company Health & Wellfare Plan.

WinCo Foods, LLC

The current CBA expires on April 28, 2012. We plan to begin negotiations with the Company no later than the first week of March and already have meetings scheduled with our Members in January and February. Notices have been mailed out and posted on the Union bulletin board. As for the new engineering standards in the warehouse, we have already put the Company on notice that we are disputing the changes and will follow through with the grievance process.

YRCW, Inc.

CLICK HERE for updates from the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
YRCW "Job Security Plan" ratified. Read more here
As of March 5, 2010, all Local 324 Members employed by YRC will have been transferred to other Locals because of a "change of operations".

Local 324 EXECUTIVE BOARD:

Chris R. Muhs ~ Secretary-Treasurer / Principal Officer

Tony Scales (WinCo Foods) ~ President