Members Fight For Better Contracts

     The effort to negotiate better wages, benefits, working conditions and job protections for our members continues in upcoming months at many workplaces.

     Our nearly 600 St. Luke’s/Cornwall Hospital Health Care employees are in tough negotiations right now for a new contract. President Barry Russell, who leads a strong member-Negotiating Committee, said that the hospital is seeking “serious givebacks” because of cutbacks in state and federal funding. “We are standing strong; our members work hard for the money they make, and nobody’s going to take it away from us.” Brother Russell is also in charge of bargaining for Hess, Highland Falls DPW, and Southern Wines and Spirits members.

     All of our leadership is involved in negotiations to renew the Construction Division Heavy and Highway Agreement. As the article above notes, we are doing all we can to gain more jobs for our construction Teamsters.

     Local 445 Vice-President Cindy Garlinghouse has negotiations underway at several construction workplaces as well as DPWs in New Paltz, Saugerties and Woodstock. She also will be busy with negotiations at Kingston and Pine Bush First Student locations, and Morgan Linen. “It’s a rough road this year with the economy the way it is,” she said, “but we have some good committees being elected by the members, and we expect to push ahead.”

      Recording Secretary/Business Agent Marty Smith leads the charge in negotiations for the Yonkers Raceway Maintenance Staff, Metroplex, and Tilcon Quarries.

     Business Agent Sandy Shaddock is at the helm of negotiations for the Village of Washingtonville Department of Public Works and the Greenwood Lake Police.

      Business Agent Jerry Ebert is in negotiations right now for NES Rentals, Wappingers Falls public employees, First Transit bus drivers, CPL construction drivers, the CSEA Local 860 office staff, and the College of New Rochelle Dining Hall employees.

     Organizer Jack Sullivan is in tedious negotiations on behalf of our Town of Fishkill public employees, while Business Agent Tom Small is preparing for negotiations for the Village of Florida Department of Public Works.

     “I give much credit to the elected Negotiating Committees at these workplaces,” said Brother Huff. “I know these are tough times, but if we stick together and use intelligent strategies we will continue to improve our contracts, for our sake and the sake of our families.”