On April 2, 2022, after a two-year hiatus, Local 776 hosted the D.R.I.V.E. Dinner/Dance for DRIVE Members and their guests. The dinner is an opportunity to thank participating members for the generosity they show working families throughout our commonwealth and country by contributing to DRIVE.

After dinner, there were two brief presentations by Local 776 Trustee and DRIVE coordinator Patrick Hollingshead, and Local 776 member and radio talk show host Rick “The Voice of Labor” Smith. Both men spoke of the importance of voting with your wallet: supporting candidates who share our views and who support working people so that they are in a position to help us when needed. Union growth is on the upswing. Workers at Amazon and Starbucks are fighting for their Unions; we must fight to preserve the opportunities we currently have as Union Members. We are fortunate to be Teamsters knowing our Union will always have our backs as we face the political reality that we are only one election away from becoming a no rights at work state.

More information concerning DRIVE, the Teamsters Political Action Committee, may be found under the “Member Resources” page of the website.

Follow Rick’s Voice of Labor Broadcast at thericksmithshow.com “Where working people come to talk”

Left to Right: Local 776 Secretary-Treasurer Ron Hicks, Local 776 Trustee/DRIVE Coordinator Patrick Hollingshead, Local 776 Member/ radio talk show host Rick Smith, and Local 776 President Ed Thompson.

Recently Local 776 mailed the Spring 2022 issue of the Local 776 Review, our newsletter, to the membership. Did your copy get lost in the mail, or put in the recycle bin before you got a chance to view it? If so all is not lost. The latest Newsletter, along with previous issues, is available for download. The Newsletter can be found under the "Member Resources" page under "Downloads"

When UPS Freight laid red-circled road drivers off in January 2020, Business Agent Spencer Dearth, with the assistance of the road stewards, went to work filing a grievance on behalf of all affected members. While processing the grievance through the grievance procedure, the Company again violated the contract in a lay-off in March/April 2020. The grievances moved through the grievance procedure with other cases filed across the country and eventually were arbitrated with grievances filed from Local 745 as the lead cases.

In July 2021, the Arbitrator ruled in favor of the Union but left the monetary claims up to the Union and Company to determine. After several conversations and discussions with the Company to make sure every affected driver was made whole,  the grievance checks were distributed on April 14^th, 2022.

UPS Freight was sold to TFI International in May 2021 and rebranded as TForce Freight.

Receiving their grievance checks with Spencer (Center) are road drivers Robert Kellner and Carissa Possemato, two of the 26 road drivers who shared the nearly $232,000.00 claim paid to the drivers at the Harrisburg terminal.

Yellow Corporation is opening its 17th Commercial Driver’s License Driving Academy next week in Middlesex Township. Yellow Corporation subsidiaries include national carrier YRC Freight, and regional carrier New Penn. This is Yellow Corp.’s first training school in Pennsylvania. The Yellow CDL Driving Academy will offer apprentice drivers four weeks of classroom instruction and behind-the-wheel training with an instructor. The academy is tuition-free and students are paid to earn while they learn. Yellow is collaborating with the U.S. Department of Labor as part of its apprenticeship program “You actually have a job while you’re going through the program,” Yellow Corp. CEO Darren Hawkins said.

United States Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh, PA Gov. Tom Wolf, officials from Yellow Corp., and Local 776 President Ed Thompson were on hand Tuesday morning for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new facility in front of two tractor-trailers: Local 776’s and one from the American Trucking Association.

Anyone interested in finding out more about the training program can contact the driving academy hotline at 833-475-8201 to apply and learn more about enrollment.

Photo Courtesy of Joe Hermitt/PennLive

United States Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh (Center) discusses the program with Local 776 President Ed Thompson as Yellow Corp. CEO Darren Hawkins and PA Governor Tom Wolf look on.

Photo Courtesy of Joe Hermitt/PennLive

With the Local's Truck proudly in the background, U.S. Secretary of Labor Walsh addresses the gathering.

Photo Courtesy of Joe Hermitt/PennLive

PA Governor Tom Wolf (center), U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh, and Local 776 President Ed Thompson cut the ribbon signaling the opening of the Yellow Corp. Driving Academy.

The Year was 1973: At the 45th Academy Awards Ceremony, Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather wins Best Picture. The World Trade Center officially opens in New York City. The Oakland A's repeat as champions of Major League Baseball, defeating the New York Mets in the World Series. Some of you may remember these events; some of you may not even have been born yet! With all this and more going on Bradley Smith began working at the former Keystone Railway, later to become Amsted Rail. After forty-eight (48) years of a remarkable career, Brad recently retired from the Amsted Rail Company. Brad began his time at Keystone not long out of high school, starting in the assembly dept. Over the years he has worked in most of the areas of the shop including chrome plating, welding, and running CNC machines, to name a few. Brad was known by his coworkers for his “bloopers” that he sometimes drew on work in the shop to shed some light-hearted humor during the workday.

Brad and his wife Rose have three granddaughters and one grandson who will make sure he does not get bored sitting around the house! Right now, he and Rose just plan to slide into retirement by taking it easy. They plan to go on vacation and see what happens with COVID before making any bigger plans.

Reflecting on his time at Amsted Rail Brad remarked “A lot came and went over 48 years, advancements in machinery, changes in the working conditions, the work actually got easier as improvements took place”.

From everyone at Local 776 congratulations on a remarkable career Brad, 48 years at the same employer is quite an accomplishment and something to be proud of!

Brad Smith (Center) receives congratulations from Local 776 President Ed Thompson (L), and Local 776 Secretary-Treasurer Ron Hicks (R).

On March 22, 2022, Sean M. O’Brien was sworn in as the new General President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. General Secretary-Treasurer Fred Zuckerman and the newly elected General Executive Board also took the oath of office. Following a swearing-in ceremony, O’Brien and his team went straight to work, holding their first board meeting to discuss the priorities of the new administration.

From everyone at Teamsters Local 776 congratulations and best of luck to you and your administration Sean.

IBT General President Sean O'Brien, (Front row 6th from left) along with General Secretary-Treasurer Fred Zuckerman, (Front row 5th from left) and the newly elected General Executive Board taking the oath of office.

After 37 years, of working at ABF Harold Snyder traded his job as a road driver for the retired life. Harold started his career at ABF in 1984 as a dockworker. Harold was a Local 776 Union Steward on the dock from 1988 to 1990. At the time, ABF was growing and hiring drivers. Harold was instrumental in getting ABF to start a driving school to train current employees to fill the driving jobs instead of hiring from the outside. Once qualified by ABF, Harold switched to driving the road, where he remained until retirement. Now that he’s not running up and down the highway, he plans to devote more time to family and hobbies. Harold and his wife Tenna, who have been married for 40 years, have a son, a daughter, and three grandkids that will be looking for his attention. Tenna is still employed, so Harold will have some time to devote to his toys; he currently has a motor home and a boat. He enjoys camping and fishing for striped bass at Raystown Lake.

Asked for any parting words Harold commented, “The Teamsters have been good to me like anywhere you have to fight to keep what you got! I met many great people over the years, I am glad to have put the time in.

From everyone at Local 776 congratulations on retirement Harold, you earned it, now enjoy it!

Local 776 Secretary-Treasurer Ron Hicks (L) congratulates Harold on his retirement.

Please see below for information concerning the PA Conference of Teamsters Golf Tournament.

Please see below for important information for Local 776 YRC and New Penn Members:

Please see below for important information concerning a YRC Cost of Living Adjustment