Cookies, Cookies, and More Cookies! If you’ve been following along on the website the last 10 days or so the Local has been celebrating the Season of Caring, Season of Sharing. We’ve been doing it with a lot of Christmas Cookies. Cookies for the goodie bags for the Children’s drive-thru in Camp Hill and York. Cookies at the Christmas Dinner, and Cookies in the goodie bags distributed during our Community Services Christmas for Kids party.

… Now Christmas cookies are a special treat
The more she bakes, the more I eat
And sometimes I can't get myself to stop… George Strait

...The ones that look like Santa Claus
Christmas trees and bells and stars
I sure do like those Christmas cookies, babe...George Strait

Ever wonder where all those cookies come from? Weis? Giant? No store-bought cookies for this Local Union! The cookies are homemade. Local 776 Trustee Rob Smiley and his wife Janet turn their home into a cookie factory in preparation for the festivities. This time of the year the aroma of freshly baked Christmas Cookies can be found in many homes; the aroma at the Smiley home must rival that of a cookie factory! They have been doing it for several years now and have got a routine established to turn out large quantities of cookies, the Smiley kitchen resembles a production line as tray after tray of cookies are laid out, baked, and cooled How many? This year Rob states it was around 850 dozen, that’s over 10,000 cookies coming out of their home’s kitchen! Thank you, Rob and Janet, for your time and effort contributing to the events!

Rob and Janet with some of their cookies during a prior Children's Christmas Party

Continuing with our Season of Caring, Season of Sharing Local 776 held another Giftmas Event! On Saturday, December 16, 2023, Local 776 hosted our annual Christmas for Kids Community Services Christmas Party. The party is held in conjunction with the Community Progress Council’s WIC program helping some of the area's most needy families during the holiday season. During the party, the kids received gifts and goodie bags from Santa and shared in the season. Santa and his “Elves” were busy making sure that everyone had a good time, and with the kids’ smiling faces, it certainly looked like Christmas!

“We are fortunate to have so much, again this year it’s important to help those in need share in the season. For some of these kids, this is their Christmas, and we try hard to help as many as possible,” commented Local 776 President Ed Thompson. “I would like to thank the Christmas for Kids Party Committee Members and also the Teamster Horsemen for all their hard work in putting this event together. Additionally, I would like to thank Bimbo Bakeries for their donations to help make the party a success.”

Everyone wants to see Santa!

With gifts lined up behind him, Santa was a busy guy on Saturday!

There were plenty of gifts for everyone!

If you smile I'll take your picture with Santa!

A big THANK YOU! to the Local 776 staff and party committee, the Teamsters Horsemen, and the staff from WIC who made the party a success.

To view additional photos from the party please visit the "Photo Gallery"

Season of Caring, Season of Sharing

After our Children’s Christmas Party drive-thru, some extra presents were remaining. The Local decided to help Santa with Christmas wishes by donating the toys to area agencies.  Here’s a rundown of agencies we helped to make a brighter Christmas:

New Hope Ministries: A Christian social service agency serving our neighbors in times of need and supporting their efforts toward stability.

Local 776 "Elves" at New Hope Ministries. L-R: BAs  Mark Cicak, Jason Kraft, Organizer Ashley Cerzullo (Kneeling), BA Dave Vrona (Rear), NEw Hope Staff, BAs Dave Licht, John Taylor, and New Hope Staff.

The Forty and Eight: The Forty and Eight was founded in 1920 by American Veterans returning from France. Originally an arm of the American Legion, it became an independent veteran's organization in 1960. It is committed to causes to promote the well-being of veterans and their widows and orphans and to actively participate in selected charitable endeavors, which include programs that promote child welfare and nurse's training.

Pictured from the left are Mike Cassatt, Local 776 BA Dave Vrona, Organizer Ashley Cerzullo, and on the right is John Scarangella who is a retiree of Local 776.

YWCA Access York: YWCA York provides emergency shelter for victims and their dependent children fleeing imminent danger.

Access York Director Miss Bert, Davis on her lap, and Jane (the little elf)

Local 776 BA Dave Wolf (Behind the camera!)

A hospital is no place for children, especially at Christmas time. The Hershey Medical Center’s Children’s Hospital and the Shriners Children’s Hospital received toys in the hope of making the kids there have a brighter holiday.

Shriners Children’s Hospital: Provides compassionate, innovative care that improves the quality of life for children and their families

The Shriners staff welcomed the Local 776 "Elves" as they made their rounds.

L-R: BAs John Taylor, Dave Vrona, Organizer Ashley Cerzullo, BAs Dave Licht, Mark Cicak.

Hershey Medical Center: As the only children’s hospital between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia fully equipped to treat the most severely ill children it is the region’s pediatric health care leader.

Pictured at HMC Children's Hospital are: Tom Bender, and Matt Miller; Union Stewards, Pam from the PSU Child Life Center, Local 776 BA Dave Vrona, Member  Scott Porter, and Mike Criswell Union Steward.

Commented Local President Ed Thompson “What better way to celebrate the Holiday than by sharing what we have with others. This is just another way we support the communities where our members work and live,” added Thompson.

Among the many gains we won in our new UPS Teamsters contract was stronger protection against excessive overtime. Drivers have a major role to play in enforcing this new language by TALKING TO YOUR STEWARD and SIGNING UP for the 9.5 list! The 9.5 list is designed to stop UPS from working you over 9.5 hours per day more than twice a week—and to make UPS pay for violations. For UPS management, the number of drivers we have on the 9.5 list is a measure of how serious we are as a Union about enforcing our contract and cracking down on excessive overtime. UPS Teamster locals have a major role to play in enforcing this new contract language by getting as many drivers as possible to sign up on the 9.5 list by January 5, 2024.

Your time—and time with your family—is valuable. When UPS violates your 9.5 rights, the company must adjust your work schedule and pay triple time for hours worked over 9.5 hours in a day.  

Under new contract language:

☑️ For the first time, former 22.4 drivers who were denied 9.5 protection will now qualify for those rights!

☑️ If UPS continues to violate your 9.5 rights, you could receive QUADRUPLE time for all hours worked over 9.5 hours!

Signing up for the 9.5 list is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY. The clock is ticking. TALK TO YOUR STEWARD AND SIGN UP BY JANUARY 5!

At the conclusion of the December Membership Meeting the members in attendance were treated to a Christmas dinner. Ham, Turkey, and all the extras to go with it were offered. There were “Goodie Bags” filled with sweet treats for everyone to take along with them. In addition, 2024 calendar books were given to the members to help them keep track of important events next year!

“The monthly membership meetings are an important tool for getting information to the members. However, they are also important for building brotherhood among the members of the various employer groups we represent. I’m glad to see the members relaxing, enjoying the food and each other’s company,” commented President Ed Thompson.

There was plenty of food for the members to enjoy while they shared their meal with the other Members.

Teamster Brothers and Sisters shared the meal and each other's company.

A good crowd was on hand enjoying the food and fellowship!

Local 776 held their annual Children’s Christmas Party, sort of, as a “Drive-thru” on Saturday, December 9, 2023. Being cautious again this year it was not the joyful event we are accustomed to with the Union Hall filled with our kids, family, friends, and coworkers gathering throughout the day. Nevertheless, Christmas is in the air, and judging from the smiles on the kids they didn’t seem to mind! Cars lined up at both the Camp Hill and York Union Halls for the kids to receive a gift, a goodie bag filled with cookies and treats, and a chance to say Merry Christmas to Santa! From the smiles on the member’s faces, it looked like they were having a good time also!

“Our Christmas party has a long tradition of serving the Local’s members and their families,” commented Local 776 President Ed Thompson. “While not the party we are accustomed to, we’ll find a way to continue our tradition. I would like to thank everyone; the Officers, Business Agents, and staff, who worked to make this event a success!”

Additional photos from the “party” can be found in the Photo Gallery on our website and the Local 776 mobile app.

From Everyone at Teamsters Local 776; MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Recently Local 776 Officers and Business Agents visited the terminals of ABF Freight and TForce Freight. The contingent spent time walking the dock at both facilities talking with the Members; and making themselves available to answer any questions the Members may have about their contracts.

While on the ABF dock, the Officers and Agents posed for a photo with a group of Members.

(L-R): ABF Member Kyle Linkhauer, Local 776 BA Spencer Dearth, Local 776 Secretary-Treasurer Ron Hicks, Local 776 President Ed Thompson, ABF Members Drew DeWalt, Ryan McMullen, Susan Oyler, Eric German, and last but not least Local 776 BA Dave Wolf.

Local 776 Trustee Rob Smiley (Center) discusses issues with Spencer, Ed, and Dave.

TForce Freight Member Lenny Massare (Seated) with Ron, Spencer, and Ed.

TForce Freight Member Tammy Romito smiles for the camera while pausing her tow motor to talk to Ed and Spencer.

On behalf of the Officers, Agents, Staff, and myself, I would like to wish everyone a happy and safe Thanksgiving. More people travel for Thanksgiving than any other U.S. holiday. AAA predicts more than 55 million people are expected to head at least 50 miles to their Thanksgiving destination between Wednesday, Nov. 22, and Sunday, Nov. 26. If you are traveling to gather with family and friends during the holiday please be safe.

We all have so much to be thankful for, please find a place in your heart for those less fortunate than us, and help them in any way that you can. When enjoying your holiday dinner; remember the hungry, when enjoying good health; remember the sick, when with family and friends remember the lonely, and lastly, remember our military personnel, many of whom are away from their families and loved ones protecting the rights and liberties that we cherish in our great country.

Fraternally,

Ed Thompson,

President, Teamsters Local 776

It's that time of year again, time to get ready for the Local 776 Children's Christmas Party! Again this year the party will be a drive-thru, just to be safe. Full details can be found below

This Thanksgiving when you buy Union, you're supporting good jobs in American communities, jobs that provide living wages and benefits, safe working conditions, and dignity and respect for work. Look for these quality products, produced by Union Members, when preparing for your Thanksgiving feast.

The Union Made Shopping List is also available in the Local 776 App, making it convenient to refer to while shopping.