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Teamsters Address Misclassification Before Pennsylvania Task Force

Photo Courtesy International Brotherhood of Teamsters

Last week, representatives from the Pennsylvania Conference of Teamsters addressed the Pennsylvania Joint Task Force on Misclassification of Employees. The bipartisan, legislatively-referred task force began in 2021 and was charged with assessing the impacts of worker misclassification in the state and coming up with recommendations for the Pennsylvania General Assembly to address the issue.

In March 2022, the task force presented its initial findings, which correctly identified many of the harms misclassification brings to workers, communities and businesses. Based on state data, the report found that more than 49,000 Pennsylvania employers currently misclassify at least one worker. Additionally, up to $124 million in state revenue has been lost due to misclassification, and workers lost more than $176 million due to injury and illness without workers compensation insurance (which employers avoid through misclassification).

Teamsters Local 776 Business Agent Dave Licht (Above), Teamsters State Legislative Director John Mataya, and Teamsters International Attorney Willie Burden all presented before the task force. They spoke to new forms of misclassification that the preliminary report did not address, especially at employers like Amazon.

“Misclassification robs workers, hollows out communities, erodes tax bases, and punishes employers who do the right thing,” said Licht. “By allowing employers to get away with misclassification, lawmakers are creating a race to the bottom.”

“The task force’s recommendations are a great starting point – a strong ABC test, appropriate penalties like stop work orders, and properly funding investigative staff, to name a few,” said Mataya. “However, there are forms of misclassification that the report overlooks, including Amazon’s DSP [Delivery Service Provider] model.”

Burden walked the task force through how Amazon uses subcontracting companies to shift liability to others through subcontracting with so-called DSP companies that employ the vast majority of Amazon’s delivery drivers. However, while a worker may be employed by a DSP on paper, Amazon exercises near-total control of the workers – mandating they operate Amazon vans, wear Amazon uniforms, drive Amazon-directed routes, and follow other Amazon directives.

“We hope that when the General Assembly receives the final misclassification report, they take swift action to address these abuses,” said William Hamilton, President of the Pennsylvania Conference of Teamsters and International Vice President. “Pennsylvania lawmakers will soon have the choice to stand either with workers or with corporations taking advantage of communities and taxpayers.”

“The days of billion-dollar companies like Amazon abusing and misclassifying workers are coming to an end,” said Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien. “Workers and taxpayers have been left holding the bag for too long and the Teamsters will continue to support meaningful reform.”

Are you looking for a career change; or interested in becoming an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)? Teamsters Local 776 and Hershey Medical Center (HMC) have collaborated on an apprentice program opportunity for existing HMC Members in addition to new hires.

The apprentice program runs for twelve weeks, participants will be paid for their time in training. At the end of the twelve-week training, upon successful completion of the certification process participants will be placed in the EMT Classification.

A current employee who fails to achieve/complete the program can apply for another job for which they qualify with HMC. A new-hire apprentice who fails to achieve/complete the program may apply for another job within Penn State Health for which they are qualified.

For more information, follow the link below for these and other Teamster Jobs:

https://www.pennstatehealth.org/careers

Photo courtesy Penn State Health

Along with HMC staff, Local 776's newest Emergency Medical Technician Members are:

Beginning second from the left:

Sahil Kumar, Bianca Jasper, Danautyca Harris, and Philip Arneson.

On June 24^th and 25^th, Local 776 Business Agents David Licht and Spencer Dearth cheered truck drivers represented by Teamsters Local 776 and other Local Unions participating in Pennsylvania’s 35^th annual Truck Driving Championships hosted by Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association in Pocono Manor, PA. During the two-day event, drivers were judged in three areas: a written test, pre-trip inspection, and of course, their driving skills. The drivers showed off their driving skills in nine classes, including Straight Truck, Twins, Three-Axle, Four-Axle, Five-Axle, Sleeper, Tanker, Flatbed, and Step Van.

Two drivers tied for the high score on the written test, including Matt Fletcher, a Teamster driver for Martin Brower. 

John Brownawell from Yellow Freight recorded a high score in the Pre-Trip Exam portion of the competition.

Also placing in 1^st place in Straight Truck was Leonard Monette, UPS,

1^st place in Twins - John Brownawell, Yellow Freight,

3^rd place in Five Axle - Matt Fletcher, Martin Brower,

1^st place in Sleeper - James Campbell, TForce Freight,

3^rd place in Sleeper - Bryan Krol, Martin Brower,

2^nd place in Tanker - Douglas Lang, Yellow Freight,

1^st place in Step Van - T.J. Altland, UPS

Winners in each class will represent Pennsylvania at the National Truck Driving Championships on August 16-19, 2022, in Indianapolis, IN.

Participating Teamsters from Yellow Freight included: Earl Confer, John Brownawell, Wesley Hoch, Chase Carignan, Don Sauter, Ron Ringler, Wayne Mahler, Wendall Taylor, and Doug Lang.     

From TForce Freight: Stacey Lane, Jimmy Campbell, Rick Biesecker, Kevin McCauley, Daniel Bailey, Bill Bennett III, and Chris Sutton.     

From UPS: Cody Celio, Ron Kreiger, Colt Seltzer, John Cataldi, Roberto Esquivel, Tyra French, Joe Green, Robert Springer, Bernard (Bernie) Wanyo, TJ Altland, Irene Rosario, Leonard Monette, Daniel Bachman, Jason Pecho, and Shawn Shanahan.

From Martin Brower: Bryan Krol, Matt Fletcher, John Digicomo

Teamsters from TForce Freight.....

UPS...

And Yellow Freight were on hand showing their skills

Friends and family came out to cheer on their favorite drivers!

Congratulations to all the drivers who took first place in their respective divisions!

To view additional photos from the Truck Driving Championship please visit the "Photo Gallery".

Recently Local 776 Business Agent Dave Vrona and the Hershey Medical Center negotiating team reached a tentative agreement with Hershey Medical Center on a new three-year collective bargaining agreement. Voting on the tentative agreement took place June 28, 29, and 30, at which time the votes were tabulated. The agreement was approved by the membership by approximately 60% of the voting members. For more details, follow the link below:

HMC Contract Ratification.

On behalf of the Officers, Business Agents, and staff of Local 776 I would like to wish everyone a happy and safe Fourth of July. We enjoy freedoms, liberties, and rights unmatched in the world.

The pandemic still is with us, inflation is at record levels, and supply chain issues continue to be a challenge. Americans are hard working, resilient workers, and as with other difficulties we have faced over time these current problems will be overcome. It is all of us working together, looking out for our families, our friends and co-workers, and others in our communities that will see us through. When things look bleakest that is when our spirit, our will to overcome shines through the most.

Now mater how you plan to spend the July 4^th Holiday take a moment to Honor America and join with me in wishing our great Nation a Happy Birthday!

“I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him.” Abraham Lincoln

Fraternally,

Ed Thompson, President Teamsters Local 776

Recently Local 776 recognized three members joining the ranks of the retired! Between the three of them is over 100 years of Teamster membership!

Penny Bupp recently retired from Rabbit Transit after 29 years as a Teamster Member. Penny worked for Rabbit for 38 years; she began her career at Rabbit as a Para Transit driver, worked in the office, and then spent the next 29 years as a fixed route driver. Penny and her husband Tony have six grandchildren between their son and stepdaughters so there are plenty of people looking for her time. Not one to sit around, while Tony was still working Penny has been to Florida with her grandkids, then with Tony to Mexico and the Dominican Republic. They have a large family trip planned for November to Jamaica or the Dominican Republic. When she is not traveling, Penny enjoys banking; snacks, cakes, and treats that she supplies the Rabbit Transit drivers with. When asked about her time as a Teamster Penny responded: “I enjoyed being a Teamster. The money I earned lets me enjoy my retirement. I wouldn’t work Non-Union!” From everyone at Local 776 happy retirement Penny!

Local 776 Business Agent John Taylor presents Penny with her retirement watch!

Steve Cooper: After 33 years of route sales for Bimbo Bakeries, the parent of Stroehmann/Maiers Bakeries, Steve Cooper recently parked the delivery truck for the last time. What Steve had considered a temporary job until something better came along 33 years ago became his career with the Union wages and benefits he was earning. Steve and his wife Julie have four children and four grandchildren. Now that he is retired, he wants to become more involved with the grandchildren and to work out at the gym. Steve is a volleyball referee, overseeing high school club volleyball in PA and across the U.S. When we caught up with him for this interview, he was working the college club volleyball championship in Arizona! When asked about his time as a Teamster Steve replied: “You have to be flexible and handle the changes, the job changed a lot in 33 years, from using pencil and paper to record sales to having a handheld computer tracking your inventory and sales”. From everyone at Local 776 congratulations on your retirement Steve, enjoy it!

Steve Cooper receives his retirement watch and congratulations from Local 776 BA John Talyor.

Gene Reichard: Where were you in 1982? Can’t remember? Local 776 Member Gene Reichard remembers; he started working at Walter Zeiglers Sons Concrete as a truck and maintenance mechanic in York. After forty years of keeping the Zeiglers fleet running Gene has inspected his last truck and joined the ranks of the retired! Gene learned the truck repair trade early; went to diesel technical school, and started at Zeiglers at age 25. He was responsible for 16 trucks, handling the routine preventive maintenance, and yearly state inspections, along with all the electrical work, steel welding, frame-up rebuilds, etc. Gene and his wife Elena have three daughters, six granddaughters, two great-grandsons, plus an adopted daughter from the Dominican Republic who has two children. With retirement comes additional time to spend with Elena and his hobby of restoring and showing antique farm tractors. Gene currently has five tractors of his own spanning the 1930s to the 1950s model years that he regularly shows. In addition, Gene serves as an Elder for Jehovah’s Witnesses, visiting other congregations on assignment to serve the ministry. Embarking on the next chapter in his life Gene stated “ I’ve been a member for forty years, I appreciate all the Teamsters have done over the years, and I have enjoyed the camaraderie of fellow Members!” From everyone at Local 776 congratulations on retirement Gene, may you enjoy many years as a Teamster Retiree!

Gene Reichard receives congratulations and his watch from Local 776 BA Bill Olmeda.

Please see below for information concerning a cost of living (COLA) increase for Teamster UPS Members:

It’s that time of the year again, the Local 776 Golf Tournament is coming. Dust off your clubs and clean your spikes, the local’s best will go at it again. Bragging rights are on the line: from the break room, the lunchroom, to the locker room the talk will be about the competition and what could have, should have, and would have happened if the shots had gone the way they should have! Spots fill up quickly, get your foursome together and get in the game! Full details are below:

Local 776 held their membership family picnic on Sunday, June 12^th. Knoebels amusement park was the place for a day of food, fun, fellowship, and good times with family, friends, and co-workers. What a way to kick off the unofficial start of summer! Schools out, the weather cooperated, and a day at Knoebels! Members, spouses, kids, grandkids, and retirees filled Knoebels making it one of Local 776’s largest member events. Inside the park, Teamster Pride was on display as a steady stream of Teamster Members and family members sporting Teamster hats, caps, T-shirts, and sweatshirts milled about the park enjoying themselves.

As is the custom at Local 776 events, tickets were sold throughout the day for a 50-50 drawing to benefit the Local Union’s scholarship fund. The 50/50 winner was Devon Park, daughter of YRC member Clarence Park. Additionally, there were two drawings for televisions that were won by Michael Hess from Amsted Rail and Ron Howard from UPS.

Commented Local 776 President Ed Thompson “It’s a good feeling seeing my Brothers and Sisters, along with their families and friends, enjoying each other, the day, and the park. I’m proud of this turnout; you, the members supporting your Local Union, fueling that sense of pride. I would like to thank EVERYONE from Local 776 who put so much time and effort into making the picnic a success. Without your support, this event could not happen”.

To view additional photos from the picnic please visit the Photo Gallery to view “Knoebels Family Picnic 2022”. Thanks to all the members who submitted photos of your day at the park. There is also a gallery titled “Members Knoebels Photos 2022” to view the members’ photos.

Big Teamster smiles!

Teamster Pride!

Too Much Picnic!

Smiling faces all over the park!