When one group lets another hang out to dry there is no unity amongst the Teamsters Brothers ! The pension and helthcare is good in some areas but not in others and the thinking is tough - thats their problem. When you have 22 different plans and you talk about treating everyone on the same page it was set up to fail ! If we were all in the same group this would of never happen. Now you have a fend for yourself mentality. Now you wonder why others have set out on a new program to try fix the problem. This is todays mentality and this is why we have a problem. Putting the trust in the teamsters to correct the problem that keeps on keeping on after each election and each contract. The sky is falling thinking is now the sky has fallen with Central States -New York - New England and various others. There are just so many life perservers to hand out !
No unity amonst teamsters !
- Thread starter wildgoose
- Start date
705red
Browncafe Steward
And exactly how have we tried to fix the problem. Were as guilty as there are, we should have gotten a slate to run against hoffa and leedham to fix these problems. Trust me brother i feel your pain, but disagree with turning our backs on the teamsters and fixing the teamsters, thats more challenging to me.
They want control and admitting that there is a problem is showing weakness ! When we ask them what they are doing about it (BA`s) they say we are working on it ? Another no nothing answer to the same problem ! In the past they just ignored us so putting this APWA out there has gotten there attention for sure. Hey if you want my attention tell me your going to skim off the good funds to make the bad funds equal then i`ll listen but the track record for Central States 2004 report was 50% +funding now for 2005 its 47.2% funded without the interest it made so that shows you that outgoing is double of what coming in ! This is a plan that continues not to work and furthermore the Central States told the locals to be able to continue in the plan they must get 8% increase in the pension fund next contract or they will be terminated from the plan !
705red
Browncafe Steward
If you dont like how your local is being ran, do something campaign for someone who will care! Let me ask you how much is contributed on a weekly basis for you right now into the pension fund?
As of the first of this year it was $239 a week. That is more than enough to see the supposed 7 grand figure that I've seen from the nay sayers out there, and in only 20 years by only getting the averages. Instead of working for 40 plus, as in my case, and seeing 2500 or less and having all the ignorant rules when you retire, so you can compensate for all the teamsters shortcomings. This is not something that will go quietly into the night. This is here to stay, apwa or not the teamsters have been put on notice. There are alot of people who deserve everything they have earned, and nothing less. This is our money not their's and if they don't want to work for us, because we don't work for them, we'll do it ourselves. You know what they say," if you want the job done right, you have to do it yourself." This couldn't be more true now.
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I believe its $216 Then it goes to $238
We have no choice but to rid ourselves of the Teamsters. They ignored the pension problem they knew existed years ago, but now it is beyond the point of no return. When they are confronted with this issue, there are no answers. The health benefits are in the same critical condition. We keep paying more through higher deductibles, co-pays and the portion of the doctor's bill that they no longer cover. When is this going to stop? Ups gives more than enough money annually to fully fund both the pension and medical benefits, but the Teamsters are set up in a multi-employer fund so that our UPS money is shared with others working for companies outside of UPS. The Teamsters blame UPS for not contributing enough money, but the truth is the Teamsters are mismanaging our money for their own benefit, and giving away a huge portion to people of other companies. It doesn't matter who runs the Teamsters,whether it is Hoffa, Leedham or any other candidate. The system is set up to fail as they are obligated to take from the rich (UPS), and give to the poor. The only way to fix this problem is to set up a union that is for UPS people only, and this insures that UPS employees receive all the money that UPS contributes. With an annual contribution of 1.3 billiion dollars, we should receive at least 6-7 thousand dollar a month pension, but that is not the case, as OUR money is diverted through the Teamsters to others. Also, our health benefits should be much better as they were years ago, but once again, we have the Teamsters to thank for this. We can correct these problems, and that is why we are trying to replace the Teamsters with the APWA (a union for UPS employees only). If you want to achieve this goal to benefit you and your family, we need your support. Please sign those petition cards and mail them back.
UPS contributes $214 per week per employee into the pension plan. In Central States, we are credited with less than half that amount. On August 1, 2007, the weekly contribution goes up to $238 per week, but we sill not see any increase in our pension, because the pension fund is in critical condition (47.2% funded) and under the red zone amendment recently passed in Congress, we are not allowed to receive an increase until the pension is 100% funded, which is never going to happen. Does it make sense that the more UPS contributes, we receive the same or less each year? Wake up already, and look at the entire picture. It is time to abandon the Teamsters and start our own union (APWA), where we receive what is rightfully ours. The Teamsters are supposed to be working for us, but instead, we are working for them, and if that isn't enough, they want us to work until the ripe old age of 65 without further monetary penalties. Do you really think a package car driver can do this job at that age?
brett636
Well-Known Member
Maybe thats why that package car driver needs to start thinking for himself/herself and investing for his/her own future. That would be the smart thing to do. Putting your hopes on the empty promises of the teamsters or other false unions will only cause the problem to worsen.
30andout
Well-Known Member
Do we have a choice in where our pension money is invested??
krash
Go big orange
Does that not include your health care?
krash
Go big orange
I believe Bret is referring to putting some of that 27+ an hour back.
Not sure Krash but will check on it.
30andout
Well-Known Member
That is absolutely correct, your nuts if you rely solely on any pension. But does that mean we should continue to give our pension money away?
705red
Browncafe Steward
E79 and switching unions is going to fix this how? Maybe we should look at the investment firms who handle the fund, theres a lot of blame on them too. I spoke with some firms at the conference and they all agreed that theres no easy fix, and it will take some time to rebuild the cs pension, but giving up isnt 1 of them.
krash
Go big orange
I believe it does WG. My point is that medical (and other) bills are payed outta that. I have 4 kids. I know that I've had to of used every bit (and then some) of what was vested for me and you some years. I had one of my twins in the hospital for over a week. My wife has had to have surgeries as I. I still see a specialist that uses that amount up alone almost every month. My family gets plenty of use outta are benefits.
Now if this figure doesn't include covering our medical, etc., then I stand corrected.
