An important meeting of all Local 162 members working at Coca Cola in Wilsonville is scheduled for Sunday, August 15, 2010, 9:00 a.m., at Teamsters Local 162 / Joe Edgar Union Hall.  Please click on the attachment below for a copy of the meeting notice. 

The National Labor Relations Board issued a Decision and Order on July 9, 2010 concerning the unit clarification for Coca Cola Teamsters working in the consolidated Wilsonville Distribution Center.  This is a huge victory for Coca Cola Teamsters and expands their bargaining power as Local 162 prepares for our 2011 contract campaign.   

The below notices were sent by the leadership of Local 162 to our membership working at Coca Cola.  A letter of demand was also sent to Coca Cola to immediately implement all superior wages and benefits for all employees.

Click on the attachment and check out the new ad in the June 29 issue of Roll Call, calling out FedEx for blocking crucial legislation that will create thousands of new jobs and make important improvements in airline safety.

Your full-time representatives from Local 162 were out at the Tualatin, Airport and Swan Island UPS facilities on June 17th, 18th and 22nd distributing the "What's UPS" newsletter.  Copies of the contract were also distributed as well as grievance forms and Teamster swag.  

"Our members are always enthusiastic about receiving the What's UPS," stated Local 162 President Mark Davison.  "It is published on an as needed basis by the Local and we make a point of handing it out personally to our 1,700+ Local 162 members working at UPS in Portland.  It is a newsletter with an edge and we are not afraid to call it like we see it."  

Shop Steward Justin Morrison, a full-time package driver out of the Mt Tabor Center in the Swan Island facility, was featured in the recent edition of the IBT UPS Teamster magazine.  Check the article out in the following attachment. 

Teamsters Local 162 members Gary Smith, Shop Steward George Jackson and Ken White are retiring after nearly 100-years of combined service at Pepsi.  All three worked in production till the bottling line was shut down in 2008 (Jackson served on that negotiating committee) and they then exercised their seniority rights under the collective bargaining agreement to bump into the warehouse. 

A retirement luncheon was held at the Pepsi plant in Portland and Local 162 President Mark Davison was on hand to thank each of them for their years of service and dedication.

"I am retiring at age 52 thanks to the Western Conference of Teamsters Pension Trust Fund and the PEER-84 early retirement benefit," said Jackson.  "The pension is fantastic and I always tell the younger members that we need to always negotiate more money in the pension because one day they will also be able to enjoy a well earned and early retirement." 

Congratulations brothers!

Secretary-Treasurer Bob Sleight congratulated longtime Teamsters Local 162 member and activist Doug Theisen at the June general memberhip meeting upon his retirement.  Doug received a well earned standing ovation at Joe Edgar Hall.

"Doug has been there when we need him to assist his brother and sister Teamsters in his over 30 years of service,"  stated Sleight.  "He is a true loyalist and we know that even though he is retiring he will be there if we need him at a rally or Union job action.  On behalf of Teamsters Local 162, congratulations on your retirement and thank you for all that you have done to support your Union."

Most of Doug's Teamster career was spent working at Rudie Wilhelm as a warehousemen until they unfortunately closed their doors.  He was able to spend his last few years working in the warehouse at Holman so he could put in the necessary time to collect his early retirement under the Western Conference of Teamsters Pension Trust.  

Alex Bell was recently welcomed back to Local 162 by Business Agent Ben Vedus upon returning from his third tour of duty in Iraq with his Oregon National Guard unit.  Alex is a staff sergeant and combat engineer, and when he is not serving his country he works at UPS as a full-time inside employee at the Swan Island facility in Portland. 

"Local 162 is proud of Alex and all of our members serving in the military,"  said Vedus.  "If you are called up to active duty we encourage you to touch base with the Union so we can discuss your contractual and legal rights specific to military leave."