Retirees Welcome ... apparently

Buzz · September 29, 2019, 09:38:48 PM

I thought this topic deserved it's own thread so here is the letter that was sent to retirees recently. (Thanks to PROUD_MEMBER.)

Buzz · September 29, 2019, 09:48:18 PM

I think it's incredible that the delegates WERE NOT EVEN INFORMED of this decision yet and had to learn of it by word-of-mouth. UNREAL!

yabba · September 29, 2019, 10:36:50 PM

well there had to be 1181 support.... the bosses have 3 trustees and 1181 has 3 trustees...so the vote had to include a yes vote from a 1181 board member..

Buzz · September 30, 2019, 12:36:48 AM

Quote from: yabba on September 29, 2019, 10:36:50 PM
well there had to be 1181 support.... the bosses have 3 trustees and 1181 has 3 trustees...so the vote had to include a yes vote from a 1181 board member..

Exactly right.

PROUD MEMBER · September 30, 2019, 01:15:39 AM

In my opinion no matter what spin is put on bringing retirees back, in plain English it Stinks. First off there are to many questions that need to be answered. Such as wage, pension and welfare contributions from both the retirees and the owners. Then when they retire again what will their pensions be. Then if by some chance if enough retirees come back (which I doubt) and the lack of drivers is filled, then what? When a 20 year old comes in and applies for a job he will be told that we're not hiring at this time. We don't need 55 to 70 year old men & woman coming into our workforce. We need Young Blood in order to keep this Local and our Pensions going for years & years! And BTW let's not forget how we were told what a good contract we just got and how it would help to bring in new members. Now only a few months later this is thrown at us. Apparently the contract isn't as good as we were told. Lastly, I know that the Union Trustees do not have to inform us of matters that they are going to vote on but after what we the Members of this Local have endured throughout the last 5 to 10 years and how the majority of us have stuck by our Leadership throughout that time I think this matter should have been brought to our attention before the Trustees voted on it.
Bottom Line ... I just went from Proud Member to Not So Proud Member!

PROUD MEMBER · September 30, 2019, 01:43:52 AM

And one more thing. If some retirees do come back I will NOT hold any I'll feel towards them. Secondly, I fully understand where the Owners are coming from. Lastly, as much as I disagree with this I still stand by my Union but going forward I will go about things more cautiously.

Buzz · September 30, 2019, 02:21:43 AM

As far a I understand, though yet to be verified, (Michael), they would start at the bottom both in pay and seniority. If that's the case, I don't see many ... if any ... taking up on the offer.

But that is beside the point. Why help the owners cover runs this way instead of coaxing them back to the table to better the contract so that new people WILL want the job? To me, this is detrimental to the local as a whole and does not benefit us in any way. So WHY DO IT?!!

Buzz · September 30, 2019, 02:30:33 AM

It used to be that if you were getting a pension from the union that you could not go to work for any other 1181 company. Now, the union is endorsing even going back to work for your OWN company. WTF???

Buzz · September 30, 2019, 05:26:31 PM

OK, Andy verified directly with Michael that retirees that come back to work will start at bottom pay and seniority and will contribute to pension, welfare and of course, dues.

PROUD MEMBER · September 30, 2019, 05:58:37 PM

And did Michael confirm that Neil & the other owners will also pay into the pension & welfare for the retirees? Furthermore the retirees unlike us can work Part Time. So when it comes pick time and it's a retirees turn to pick what happens if he only wants to work in the AM? Say there's a run with one school in the morning and three schools in the afternoon. Can he just pick the one school in the morning? But one of us as a Full Time employee can't! Is that fair to us Active Members who have Seniority? Is that fair to a 21 year old kid who's looking to start a future in Our Union that starts a day after a retiree comes back?
This idea of bringing Retirees back is just a bad idea and is destructive to this Local!!!

Buzz · September 30, 2019, 07:07:33 PM

Quote from: PROUD MEMBER on September 30, 2019, 05:58:37 PM
And did Michael confirm that Neil & the other owners will also pay into the pension & welfare for the retirees? Furthermore the retirees unlike us can work Part Time.

I failed to include that Michael did specifically tell Andrew there would be NO PART-TIMERS!

And to answer the other part of your question, employers will be making the same contributions as they would to any new hire.

PROUD MEMBER · September 30, 2019, 09:23:47 PM

Ok thanks but still leaves a bad taste.

Buzz · September 30, 2019, 09:42:27 PM

Quote from: PROUD MEMBER on September 30, 2019, 09:23:47 PM
Ok thanks but still leaves a bad taste.

I completely agree. The optics are just WRONG.

04012013 · September 30, 2019, 10:47:43 PM

It's blatantly obvious now that the union is concerned about the future pension and welfare promise. This issue is an ongoing drawback from the previous contract where the senior people were very shortsighted and thought it was OK to sell out the unborn causing a drastic reduction in hiring and retaining new drivers. Hiring new drivers for the long haul financially benefits the union as well as the owners. As far as covering work, I know Buzz and Proud have always thought that we should do it or we will lose the runs. We may, but the drivers covering those runs are not contributing double the amount to the various funds. Everyone would be eager to make extra $$$, but in the long run it is sabotaging our future.

PROUD MEMBER · September 30, 2019, 10:55:15 PM

Now that we have the answers with regards to the retirees and owners paying into the pension how will it be determined what they get when they retire AGAIN.

Do they have to work at least 5 years to be vested again?

If someone retired after 10 years and then works another 5 years does he/she now get a 15 year pension or a 10 year and a 5 year pension?

What if they come back and only work one year?

Bottom line Retirees be allowed to come back just raises to many questions and does not help our future.