Scott Shank retired earlier this year after forty years as a Teamster. Scott started his Teamster journey in 1977 with Roadway Express and then moved to Yellow Freight in 1981. With the Yellow Freight/Roadway Express merger, forming YRC, Scott transferred to Carlisle where he worked as a city driver until retirement.

After 40 years of working, Scott has plenty to do in retirement. He and Debbie, his wife of 37 years, have four kids, an engineer, a doctor, a dietician, and lastly one leaning toward becoming a pastor. Right now there are three grandkids with two more expected later this year to keep them both busy. Scott likes to hunt, retirement will offer more time for that, and he raises animals on their land. When he wants to relax Scott picks up a brush and paints; but not houses, Scott is an artist; he is an accomplished painter in oils, primarily painting landscapes. Some of his paintings were displayed to his co-workers at the YRC terminal in Carlisle; individuals have also purchased his work to decorate their homes.

With all of this activity, Scott is still finding time for some get-a-way time with his wife. Scott and Debbie have a cruise of the Mediterranean scheduled for later this year. Flying to Barcelona Spain and cruising with stops in Spain, Italy, and Greece.

When asked to comment on his time as a Teamster Scott responded “I’ve been a Teamster since I was 18 tears old. The Teamsters have taken care of the family in that time, the health care, the benefits, and the wages; the Teamsters have taken good care of the Shanks! Retirement is great, it’s better than driving a truck!”

From everyone at Local 776 congratulations on your retirement Scott, may you enjoy every minute of it!

Local 776 Secretary-Treasurer Ron Hicks (L) presents Scott with his retirement watch commemorating 40 years of Teamster Membership.

Please see below for important information concerning a By-Law Amendment to amend Section 31 (D) Drivers Welfare Fund:

March 31, 2022, is the deadline for the submission of applications for the Local 776 scholarships for the current year. Full details about the scholarships can be found under the “Member Resources” page or by following the link below:

Scholarships

The Circus is coming to town! And Local 776 has tickets for you! The Local Union has purchased 100 adult tickets and 100 children's tickets. The tickets can be picked up at either the Harrisburg or York Union Hall during normal business hours. Full details are below:

Tickets are limited to two (2) adult tickets and two (2) children's tickets per member and are available on a first-come,first-served basis. Children's ages are from 12 years and younger. Anyone over 12 years of age is required to have an adult ticket.

Workers’ Memorial Day is observed in York and Adams Counties on April 28^th to remember workers who lost their lives on their job. The York-Adams Counties Central Labor Council AFL-CIO; York, Pennsylvania sponsors The Richard L. Boyd Workers’ Memorial Day Essay Contest, offering a scholarship to eligible High School Seniors. Full details are below. The information is also available for download by “clicking” on the information below.

When the City of York-owned Wastewater Treatment Plant sale was submitted to the PUC for final approval, Local 776 Business Agent Spencer Dearth knew the Local needed to act fast to preserve jobs and protect the members by negotiating a new contract. In mid-December, a negotiating committee was formed and began negotiations with PA American Water Company through the holidays and January. Negotiating committee and membership meetings were scheduled on weekends to expedite the process. On Friday, February 4^th, a tentative agreement was reached between the parties and presented for a membership vote on Saturday, February 12^th. By unanimous vote, the members ratified the Agreement effective the day PA American Water Company takes ownership and control of the plant, tentatively expected in April 2022. The Agreement contains provisions such as a substantial pay increase, double-time for work performed on a holiday, paid lunches and breaks, premium overtime language, and daily job protection with eight-hour guarantees.

York City members stand united with Local 776 BA Spencer Dearth (Center with arm raised) after unanimously ratifying a new bargaining agreement with the future owner of the Wastewater treatment plant.

The Teamsters Union has national agreements with multiple freight companies and UPS. Some have both a national agreement that covers certain topics for all members, coupled with local or regional supplements that cover other issues. The agreements can be found on a new page added to the home page of the website titled “National Contracts”. Follow the link below to be directed to the new page:

“National Contracts”

Kathy Heindel began her career at UPS as most long-term employees do, as a part-time employee. Kathy started at UPS in 1988 working various jobs until she got a full-time position in August 1996 as a full-time air combo driver. After being full-time for 1 1/2 years her seniority allowed her to become a feeder driver, where she remained for 23 years until her retirement on December 31, 2021. Kathy is a second-generation Teamster, having learned from her father, Verl F. Heindel, who was a Teamster at Roadway Express for 30 years that being employed as a Teamster meant that you would have good pay, great health benefits, job protection, and a good pension.

During the wars in Afghanistan & Iraq Kathy collected items to help support a troop of 160 military personnel in Baghdad from our area for a year. She also helped fellow UPS drivers who served and had sons overseas. Fellow Teamsters from the Union Hall would donate money for items, sign cards, and offer support. One year a 6-foot Christmas tree and decorations were sent to the troops. Kathy organized a fundraiser for a UPS driver serving in Afghanistan. She collected $2500 in two weeks for the family. Additionally, Local 776 donated many toys and gifts to the family that year. When we suffered the loss of drivers on the road at UPS Kathy set up fundraisers for the families, making peanut butter and coconut eggs and selling them. The money being donated to the families. To help a hub employee’s son with cancer Kathy made cookies and masks, selling them and donating $2300 in just a few weeks. For all of her humanitarian efforts, Kathy was nominated for "Super UPSer" on the UPS website in December of 2021. Commented Kathy “my grandmother taught me that we are blessed and we need to give back!" Congratulations on retirement Kathy, you are a shining example of the Local’s motto of “People Helping People”!

Kathy receives her retirement watch along with congratulations from Local 776 BA Dave Licht

December 30, 2021, ended a chapter of Jim Goodyear’s life and started a new one. Jim retired after 42 years as a Teamster. Jim started his Teamster membership at York Casket Co., where he was instrumental in the organizing drive that brought the drivers into the Union; he then became the first Union Steward for the York Casket members. After a year at York Casket, while on a layoff, Jim heard of an opening at York Container Company, and his next 41 years, the last 25 as a Union Steward, were spent there. During his career, Jim amassed approximately 3 million accident-free miles driving up and down the road.

Jim and his wife Patti have two daughters with four grandkids between them. The family, along with a honey-do list, will keep Jim active! Jim is an avid hunter and angler. Retirement will provide more time for both activities, with a road trip to Wyoming to hunt, salmon fishing on Lake Ontario, and flounder fishing in Maryland. Additionally, pandemic allowing, a cruise to Alaska is being planned.

Jim has seen the Union help many people throughout his career, when asked by new employees, especially younger people just starting, why a Union? Jim is quick to tell them, “Your wages, your benefits are because of the Union, just wait until the day you need them, then you’ll see what they do for you!”

From everyone at Local 776 congratulations on your retirement Jim, may you enjoy as many years of retirement as the number of years you worked earning it!

Jim Goodyear (L) and Local 776 BA Bill Olmeda with Jim's Retirement Watch!

The James R. Hoffa Memorial Scholarship application deadline is March 1, 2022. Details on the application process may be found on the JRHMSF website:

www.jrhmsf.org

Additionally, the application deadline for Local 776 scholarships is March 31, 2022. Full details on all of the scholarship opportunities for qualifying dependents of Teamster members may be found under the “Member Resources” page of the website.