More than 3,600 hourly workers at Mack Trucks Inc., in Florida, Maryland and Pennsylvania went on strike at six plants at 11:59 p.m. Saturday seeking “fair pay and benefits," the UAW confirmed early Sunday.

“UAW members get up every day and put in long, hard hours of work from designing to building Mack trucks,” Ray Curry, secretary-treasurer of the UAW and director of the Heavy Truck Department, said in a prepared statement. “UAW members carry on their shoulders the profits of Mack and they are simply asking for dignity, fair pay and job protections.”

This strike comes in the middle of a national strike of 46,000 UAW members striking General Motors in 10 states and 55 locations. The GM strike, which began Sept. 16, has dragged on so long that Wall Street has suggested it could harm the automaker's credit rating if not resolved soon. Talks in Detroit after four weeks of picketing are said to be making progress.

Mack Truck has plants in Allentown, Pennsylvania; Middletown, Pennsylvania; Hagerstown, Maryland; Baltimore, Maryland; and Jacksonville, Florida. “The last four years we have helped Mack Truck make significant profit through our work,” Doug Irvine, president of Local 2301 and president of the Mack Truck Council, said in a prepared statement. “All we are asking is that the company treat us with the dignity and respect we deserve in making them successful.”

UAW workers in Middletown, PA are on the Mack Trucks strike line. For more details and photos follow the link below:

UAW Middletown

In collaboration with the York County WIC (women, infants, and children) program Local 776 is again hosting their annual Christmas for Kids Party. This community services project helps some of the neediest families’ kids in the area have a brighter holiday.

Beginning at the monthly membership meeting on October 13^th Christmas tree “Ornaments” with kids’ names will be available for selection. Ornaments can also be picked up at the Union Hall during regular office hours. So how can you help? Many members pick up an ornament and then return with a gift. If you would prefer, monetary donations are graciously accepted, then the Local 776 “elves” will shop for you. Please make any checks payable to Teamsters Local 776 and in the memo area of your check please mark “Christmas for Kids party”.

This year Members of Teamster Horsemen Chapter 53W are selling raffle tickets in support of the Christmas for Kids party; the tickets can be purchased from any Teamster Horsemen member, and will also be available at the membership meeting or by contacting Chapter Pres. Rob Smiley at 717-6494856. Tickets can be purchased until October 28, 2019. The tickets will use the PA Lottery evening and mid-day numbers drawn on October 29, 2019 to determine the winners. First prize for matching the evening number will be $1000.

This community service project could not take place without strong support from the members. This holiday season help put a smile on a child’s face by making their Christmas a little brighter. Please find it in your hearts to help in any way that you can by supporting this worthy project for these kids.

Teamsters Local 776 Members at Pleasant Acres Nursing Home in York, PA voted October 1, 2019 on a new collective bargaining agreement. Full details can be found below:

Officer Bree Wilson of the West York Borough Police Dept. takes her job and involvement in the community seriously. Recently on a hot summer day while on patrol in the Borough she saw a community member struggling with her lawn mower to get her grass cut. Recognizing a need and an opportunity to help someone she turned her cruiser around and parked in front of the lady’s house.  Bree took over the mowing, telling the resident to sit down in the shade. While she was finishing up word of her act of kindness was already spreading through the community, with one individual offering water and another filming the event to spread positivity through the community. Once posted on social media the video went viral prompting Women’s World Magazine to pick up the story. Officer Wilson commented: “My job is to look at the world around me and see where there might be a need or an opportunity to help someone.”

To download and view the Woman’s World Magazine Article follow the link below:

Wilson Article

Officer Bree Wilson and Local 776 BA Bill Olmeda

Here's some more Member's displaying their Teamster Pride! Got Teamster Pride? Send a photo with your shirt, cap, jacket, etc. either wearing it or holding it up and we'll post it on the Teamster Pride page located in the Photo Gallery. Send your photos to:

info@teamsterslocal776.org

The Member in the center had just picked up two T-shirts at the York Union Hall!

On September 8, 2019 Local 776 announced the resignation of Lindsay Depew as a Trustee of the Local 776 Executive Board. The Local would like to thank Lindsay for his service to the Local Union and wishes him great success in his organizing position with the IBT to help make our Union stronger.

Pursuant to the IBT Constitution the Local Union Executive Board appointed Dipan Patel to fill the vacant Trustee Position on the board. Dipan has been employed by UPS Freight for eight years as a road driver and has been a Local 776 Union Steward for the past two years.

Dipan Patel

The Labor Wire

On Monday night, while workers at nearly 70 General Motors plants across the country were walking picket lines, GM cut off their health care with no advance notice. Nearly 50,000 families immediately lost coverage, including Laura Prater, who woke up in a hospital bed to find out that her insurance was canceled after having a $40,000 stomach surgery. “It makes me feel terrible,” says Prater. “Before I started working for GM, I was Army. I'm a veteran, so things like integrity, honesty—those things mean something to me.” It’s time for GM to honor its workers.

Kitchen Table Economics:

20%: The decrease in the average hourly wages of U.S. auto manufacturing workers since 2000, adjusted for inflation.

On Friday, September 13^th, 2019 Local 776 Business Agent Spencer Dearth and Trustee Rob Smiley walked the picket line with striking workers from Republic Services in Marshfield MA. The Republic Services workers, members of Teamsters Local 25 in Boston, MA were in day 16 of a strike called when the contract negotiations failed on wages, health care, and retirement benefits. While at the site Spencer and Rob presented the striking workers 25 bags of provisions and supplies for the strike line that were packed by Local 776 staff at the Harrisburg Union Hall. The bags for the striking members contained basic food stuffs including bread, peanut butter and jelly, cereal, cans of soup, and beans. Recently Local 25 Republic Teamsters extended their picket lines to Local 350 in San Jose, California. "When faced with a greedy company like Republic, Teamsters take the fight to the streets from Boston to San Jose," said Sean O'Brien, Teamsters Local 25 President. "Greedy, cynical companies like Republic have to learn that when they take on the Teamsters in one city, they're taking on the entire Teamster Union."

Local 776 BA Spencer Dearth (Holding a food bag) presents the striking Local 25 members with the donated items

The food bags were arranged at the strike line for pick-up by the members

Local 776 Spencer Dearth (Right) supported the Local 25 members by walking the line with them.

As summer wanes and the corn grows tall this leads to an annual event: The York-Adams County Central Labor Council’s Corn Roast, which was held on September 9th. Again this year labor leaders, rank and file members, and friends of labor gathered to share in good food, fellowship, and corn! It’s a time to meet with others who share many of the same concerns facing organized labor. Local 776 was on hand with our hospitality truck and grill. Local 776 Trustee Rob Smiley handled the cooking chores assisted by his wife Janet and son Caleb. Also on hand from Local 776 were Business Agent Dave Wolf, 776 members Bob and Jason Myers, who work at Metals USA, where Jason is a Local 776 Union Steward, and last but not least Retiree Kittie Hake.

While local 776 Trustee Rob Smiley manned the grill the corn simmered in a big cooker!

A good crowd from organized Labor was on hand

Local 776 Members Bob (Left) and Jason Myers were on hand for the event. In the background is the Local 776 cooking crew: Standing (R) 776 Trustee Rob Smiley, His wife Janet, seated (L) and their Son Caleb

Recently the Littlestown Borough Police Dept. moved into a new expanded location to better serve the Borough Residents. The Police Department, whose officers are represented by Local 776 Business Agent Bill Olmeda, is a full service police department which operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week providing the borough’s citizens with protection using the latest in technology, equipment, and continuing education and training. The Police Department is responsible for patrolling the community, responding to calls from citizens, and investigating and enforcing criminal and traffic laws of the Commonwealth and the Borough of Littlestown.

The new building provides more space for the Dept. to better serve the residents

Officers Anthony Lupian (Left) and James Spielman, both Local 776 Union Stewards, are now based at the new location in the Borough