 The
Teamsters Union is a Democracy 
What happens if the
Union wins the election at NEDCP ?
 Within
7 to 10 days after the election, the National Labor Relations
Board certifies the Election and Teamsters Local 25 will be
the exclusive bargaining agent for the Drivers and Helpers.
 Within
14 days after certification the union calls for a proposal
meeting to ask the Drivers and Helpers what they would like
covered in their first contract. (wages, hours, benefits, work
rules etc..)
 At
the proposal meeting the Union will ask the Drivers and Helpers
who they would like to represent them on the bargaining committee.
Usually it would be three to five workers that would serve
on the bargaining committee. In this case both Drivers and
Helpers will serve on the committee.
 Once
the bargaining committee is formed and all of the worker proposals
have been logged in, the bargaining committee will then contact
the company management to set up dates for negotiations. Keep
in mind that the workers will have prioritized their proposals
before they enter into negotiations. If wages are not an issue,
the workers would shift the negotiation focus to Healthcare
or to work rules instead. (the workers set the tone and content
of negotiations)
 At
the first day of negotiations the Union and the Company will
exchange their proposals and set ground rules for further negotiations.
As the negotiations move forward the Company and Union may agree
on certain issues and table other issues for later in the negotiations.
The workers who serve on the bargaining committee will be in
place to react to the company’s proposals and make sure
that they don’t adversely affect either the Drivers or
the Helpers.
 Once
the company and the union agree on a contract, the workers
will be called to a ratification meeting. At the meeting the
contract will be presented and the workers will be able to
ask specific questions about the language in the contract.
After the contract is read in its entirety,
the workers will vote whether to accept or reject the contract
as written. The workers will vote on the contract and if the
result is 50% plus 1, the contract will be ratified. If the
contract is rejected the bargaining committee will go back
to the company with direction from the members to ask for language
changes or monetary changes. If the company
declares that a contract is their “best and final offer” the
workers will either accept or reject without the option for
changes.
 If
the contract is accepted, the workers will now be part of the
Teamsters Union and have representation and enforcement of
the contract. The workers will be asked to choose a couple
of Stewards to represent them in the workplace. The Steward
will be someone who is familiar with the company and the industry,
as well as understands the newly ratified contract.
 If
the contract is rejected, the Union may ask the workers to
vote to authorize a labor stoppage. The workers would either
vote yes or no to implement a labor dispute or revote for the
contract to avoid a labor stoppage.
When in the Teamsters
Union the member will always have a voice in all negotiations,
whether to go on strike or not, and be able to vote for all
of their union representatives. It is a true Democracy. 
 Example
2: (July 23, 2009 NEDCP Employee Communication)
The UNION proposes that NEDCP provide “free
medical insurance”, and that wages be reduced by $5.00
per hour. (That is not true. If the Teamsters Health & Welfare
Plan is negotiated the worker would not have to pay anything
for the monthly premium see explanation below)
Upon the drivers and helpers request, during negotiations,
Teamsters Local 25 would try to bargain for the Teamsters Health & Welfare
Plan. (The plan covers over 7,000 active Teamster members and
their 11,000 dependents and to 1,300 retirees and their 960
spouses.) The cost of the monthly premiums for this plan falls
solely on the employer. The employer costs starting on August
1, 2009 is $7.86 per hour, capping at $314.40 per 40 hour week.
The employer is not obligated to pay any benefits for any hours
over 40 hours worked per week. ($314.40 covers the employee
for that week, regardless of how many hours they work)
If NEDCP agrees to our Teamsters Local 25
Health & Welfare Plan (Blue Cross Blue Shield Network Blue
New England), the company would have to pay for all premium
costs and the workers would not have to pay for any monthly
premium costs. The workers would be responsible for their co-payments
for doctor’s office, emergency room visits and prescriptions.
(see our website for benefits overview…http://www.teamsterscare.com/benefits.html)
The workers would pocket the current amount they spend
on the NEDCP health plan costs.
The Teamsters Local 25 bargaining committee would
not recommend negotiating for the Teamsters Health & Welfare
Plan, while negotiating backwards losing $5.00 per hour in
wages.
 STRIKE
FACTS: (July 30TH, 2009 NEDCP Employee Communication)
A strike at a Teamsters Local 25 company is a last resort.
The workers directly affected by a strike will decide by a
one person one-vote whether they want to go on strike. The
Union will not put workers on strike unless the workers authorize
it. (NEDCP is using the “Strike” as a scare tactic
to persuade you to vote against the Teamsters Union.)
Both the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and Local 25
have strike funds to support workers while on Strike. The IBT
strike pay is 10 hours per week at your hourly rate.
EX: $23.65 per hour x 10 = $236.50 per week. The Local 25 Strike
pay is $50.00 per week. Local 25 does not anticipate a Labor
dispute with NEDCP. We believe we can negotiate a fair and equitable
contract that both sides agree on. (Remember, Teamsters like
Dunkin Donuts coffee too.)
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