Local 251 Sells Fleet of Cars to Benefit Members

Cars to be sold in sealed bid auction.

UPDATED April 14, 2014: For years, Local 251 officials maintained a fleet of union cars that were used by the Business Agents but paid for with your dues money. We don’t believe this is the right policy for our Union and we are making a u-turn.

Union representatives now drive their own cars and receive a modest car allowance to compensate them for wear and tear. This is standard procedure in Teamster local unions and it will save you dues money.

Teamsters Local 251 is selling the fleet of cars used by the old administration and putting the funds to work for the membership.

We are selling the cars off through a sealed bid auction of the cars.

Any member of Local 251 is eligible to submit bids for the cars listed in the announcement of the auction here. The car will be awarded to the highest bidder as long as that bid is above the value of the car.

The sealed bids will be opened at the next monthly meeting, Sunday April 27, 2014.

DOT Physical Service

Local 251 is offering DOT physical service through a DOT Certified Medical Examiner.

A discount rate applies to members whose employers don’t cover physicals.

Click here to contact the Local Driving School so we can schedule your examination.

Solidarity with Local 804 UPSers

250 UPS drivers, members of Local 804, have been terminated for walking off the job in protest of another unjust and improper termination of a Teamster member. UPS expects the contract to be followed when it benefits them. Teamsters demand contract enforcement as well.

Click here to sign the online petition to support our brothers and sisters in Local 804 NYC.

Shop Steward Seminars

Thanks to all the shop stewards who attended the training on Investigating Disciplinary Grievances on February 22.

Our next shop steward seminar will be held after the General Membership Meeting on Sunday, March 30. The topic will be Dealing with Supervisors in the Office.

NEW for UPS Members: 9.5 Rights Enforcement Packet

With peak over, our 9.5 rights are back in effect. Now’s the time to get on the 9.5 list.

Local 251 has issued a 9.5 Rights Enforcement Packet to make it easier to enforce your protections against excessive overtime.

Click here to download a copy of the new 9.5 Rights Enforcement Packet.

Rhode Island Hospital Steward Elections

Rhode Island Hospital shop steward elections will be held at the union hall Saturday, March 8.

Click here to download the notice for the Rhode Island Hospital steward election.

Members Put an End to Secret Deals at R.I. Hospital

Former Local 251 officers signed illegal side agreements with R.I. Hospital that gutted members’ rights. They kept these deals secret from the members. But the days of secrecy are over in Local 251.

President and Business Agent Paul Santos negotiated a mid-contract agreement that protects members’ seniority and bumping rights if management changes their status as a part-time, full-time or temporary employee.

But before the change went into effect, Santos insisted the agreement had to be voted on by the members. More than 500 Hospital Teamsters attended a union meeting to discuss the change. Members voted 501 to 12 to back the new agreement.

“Members sent a message to the hospital that it’s a new day in this union,” said President Paul Santos. “Teamsters at the Hospital are going to be informed and we’re going to be united and prepared for contract negotiations,” Santos said.

Teamster Solidarity

Local 251 members rallied in solidarity with workers at the Renaissance Hotel and their union, UNITE HERE. Reinaissance Hotel workers are calling for a boycott of the hotel until managements respects the right of workers there to form a union and organize for better working conditions, higher pay and respect. We stand behind Renaissance Hotel workers in their struggle for justice.

Click here to watch a video to learn more about the UNITE HERE struggle at the Renaissance Hotel.