(WASHINGTON) The International Brotherhood of Teamsters today asked shareholders of The Coca-Cola Company [NYSE: KO] to support the union’s proposal for an independent board chairman at Coca-Cola’s upcoming annual meeting on April 21 in Duluth, Ga.

In a letter to shareholders, Teamsters General Secretary-Treasurer C. Thomas Keegel said that an independent chairman at Coca-Cola is critical to ensuring rigorous oversight of management—particularly as the company moves forward with plans to acquire its largest bottler, Coca-Cola Enterprises, Inc.’s [NYSE: CCE], North American operations.

In the proposed transaction, Coca-Cola will absorb the bulk of CCE’s business and its 59,000-strong workforce in North America. The proposed transaction leaves little room for error. With 50 percent of Coca-Cola’s revenue to come from North America, up from 30 percent currently, pressures on management will increase dramatically because the mature North American market has more limited growth opportunities than other parts of the world.

In addition, the proposed transaction will greatly increase the company’s focus on bottling operations which historically have narrower margins than Coca-Cola’s current business. Adding to the pressure, the company’s main competitor PepsiCo, which acquired its two largest North American bottlers in February this year, has now a significant head start in integrating its business operations.

“Coca-Cola’s revolving door of overpaid, underperforming chairmen/CEO’s over the years has led many large investors to join our call for independent board leadership,” Keegel said. “With such significant management challenges ahead, independent board leadership is needed now more than ever.”

The Teamsters’ letter to investors also raised concerns regarding Coca-Cola’s board composition, which includes long-tenured and potentially conflicted directors with leadership roles on the board’s key committees, further exacerbating the need for independent board leadership.

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico including more than 15,000 who produce, package and distribute Coca-Cola products.

(Washington, D.C.)—Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa has named Dennis Raymond, the Secretary-Treasurer of Local 677 in Waterbury, Conn., to lead the Bakery and Laundry Conference.

Hoffa made the appointment on April 1. Raymond replaces Richard Volpe, who has retired, as the conference’s director.

“Dennis Raymond has done an outstanding job as the Northeast Regional Bakery and Laundry Director, and as the chairman of the Bakery and Laundry Conference for the U.S. and Canada,” Hoffa said. “His expertise with the conference, and his experience working in the bakery industry, will serve the Teamsters well.”

Raymond said one of his biggest priorities would be organizing new members.

“This is an important time to grow our conference and we are already at work organizing,” Raymond said. “Another priority is to get a national agreement with Hostess Brands.”

Raymond has been a Teamster for 38 years, and began his career as a bakery route salesman, and also worked as a breadman. Raymond has served in various capacities for Local 677 as a steward, recording secretary, president, business agent, and in his current role as secretary-treasurer. Raymond also serves as the union chairman for the Tri-State Teamsters Health and Welfare Fund and as a Trustee for Joint Council 10 in New England.

“The Nation” writes about big changes happening at the Labor Department under Secretary Hilda Solis that may not attract big headlines, but affect us all. The article is a good reminder about why the Obama administration is good for workers.

Nearly 900 walnut processing workers in Stockton, California made history for a second time when they ratified a new contract on March 24, 2010.

The five-year agreement covers 500 year-round employees and between 300 and 400 seasonal employees. It improves seniority protections, working conditions, wages and benefits with an average wage increase of 2.5 percent for employees.

What makes the contract so special is the fact that it is the second for a group of workers who defied the odds. Workers at Diamond Foods, Inc. took on the company in 1991 when contract negotiations broke down, starting what would become the world’s longest labor strike.

Workers stayed on picket lines for 14 years. The strike ended in 2005 with ratification of the workers’ first five-year contract.

Now that the second contract has been ratified, workers are looking ahead to a bright and promising future.

“The first contract is the foundation. The second contract is the structure that together we will build upon for a powerful future,” said Lucio Reyes, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 601 in Stockton. “This is proof that good-faith bargaining does work.”

Reyes said the second contract was the result of hard work, dedication and solidarity from Diamond Foods workers.

The Teamsters Training and Development Department will conduct a TLA for new local union business agents on April 19-23, 2010 at the International Union Headquarters in Washington, D.C. This five-day training will provide tactics and strategies for organizing, negotiating, managing work, and effective representation, including building strong bargaining units.

Joint Council 43 in Detroit will be host a Teamsters Leadership Academy (TLA) on arbitration for local union officers and business agents on May 19-21. Participants are invited to the Labor’s International Hall of Fame Induction Dinner/Ceremony in which IBT Vice President John Cleveland will be inducted.

(Seattle, WA) -  Teamsters Local 174 received what Waste Management (WMI) called a last, best, and final offer last night for contracts covering 450 sanitation workers who service 1 million customers in King and Snohomish counties. The union said the proposal contained significant changes that had not yet been discussed in bargaining and new language that they were seeing for the very first time.

“The idea that the company can introduce new language and throw all kinds of changes at us and expect our members to vote on a short deadline is offensive,” said Rick Hicks, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 174 and lead negotiator for the union. “The union has a responsibility to our membership to analyze the whole contract proposal and not just vote our members on a one-page press release from the company.”

“From a union’s perspective, this appears to be a tactic to divide the membership and force them to vote on a substandard deal,” said Tracey A. Thompson, Local 117 Secretary-Treasurer. “This approach to bargaining calls into question whether the company is bargaining in good faith.”

Representatives of WMI distributed a one-page appended summary of the offer to sanitation workers as they reported to their facilities for work this morning. Workers’ reactions to the offer ranged from indifference to anger.  “By attaching an artificial deadline, it looks like they’re trying to ram a bad contract down the sanitation workers’ throats,” said Brent Barrett, a yard waste driver at WMI Seattle.

Teamsters Local 174 spokesperson Michael Gonzales said the union has carefully considered the company’s last, best and final offer, and has given a new proposal to the company which contains significant movement.

“We have requested that the employer return to the bargaining table, and at the time of this press release we have not received a response,” Gonzales said.

(Cleveland, OH) – International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Airline Division, Teamsters Local 1108 and Flight Options, LLC, the Cleveland-based provider of luxury business jet fractional ownership and jet card programs, announced that pilots have ratified a first labor agreement on March 31, 2010. 

“The new contract with Flight Options is the basis for a strong labor-management partnership between the Teamsters and Flight Options, LLC,” said Capt. David Bourne, Teamsters Airline Division Director. “A first contract that works for pilots and their families, as well as management and Flight Options customers, is a great achievement for the entire industry.”

“This was a significant milestone for Flight Options. Since our inception, our flight crews have been the cornerstone of our operation,” said Kenn Ricci, Chairman of Flight Options. “The new agreement further solidifies Flight Options’ position as a premier employer of pilots and ensures the long term success of our company.”

After more than three years of negotiations, the Teamsters reached a tentative agreement with Flight Options, LLC management on January 28, 2010. Ballots were counted in Cleveland, Ohio on March 31, 2010. The agreement was ratified by 88 percent of the union’s membership.

“This contract would not be possible without the collective effort of the entire organization.” said Michael Silvestro, CEO, “I am particularly proud of the fact that we are able to make a significant financial commitment to our pilots even in this difficult economic environment.”

The parties will convene in mid-April for an official contract signing ceremony. The new agreement provides for an immediate salary increase, longevity increases, additional paid time off, job security protections, an expansive basing system, and a grievance and arbitration process.

“This contract is the product of thousands of hours of work and a joint commitment to the success of our pilots and the company,” said Capt. Mat Slinghoff, President of Teamsters Local 1108. “The pilots I represent have achieved a milestone and they look forward to playing an active role in the company’s future success.” 

About Teamsters Local 1108

Teamsters Local 1108, part of the Teamsters Airline Division, represents more than 500 pilots employed by Flight Options, LLC. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters was founded in 1903 and represents more than 1.4 million hardworking men and women in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

About Flight Options

Flight Options has earned a reputation as a leader and innovator within the private jet industry. For over 11 years, Flight Options has continued to offer the complete spectrum of programs from fractional ownership to leasing, aircraft management, and JetPASS Select 25-hour card membership. The company is an industry leader in private aviation safety and provides personalized service to over 1,300 Owners and Members. Flight Options owns and operates a fleet of more than 100 aircraft consisting of the Hawker 400XP, Hawker 800XP, Citation X, and Embraer Legacy 600 with the revolutionary new Phenom 300 arriving in April 2010. More information is available at www.flightoptions.com or by calling 877.703.2348.

(Seattle, WA)  – Teamster sanitation workers reached a tentative settlement with Republic Services yesterday over collective bargaining agreements covering 145 garbage drivers and recycling center workers who service approximately 123,000 residential and commercial customers throughout King and Snohomish Counties.

“This agreement, if ratified, will ensure fair wages, decent health and welfare coverage, and retirement security for our members and their families in the sanitation industry,” said Rick Hicks, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 174. “We plan to fully recommend the offer to our members for approval.”

Teamsters Local 117 also reached a tentative agreement covering employees at Republic’s 3rd and Lander recycling facility located in downtown Seattle.

“The company has agreed to a compensation and benefit package that recognizes the important nature of the services our members provide to their communities,” said Local 117 Secretary-Treasurer, Tracey Thompson.

Thompson says she will also recommend the proposal for approval and plans to vote her members on the deal as early as next week.

Teamsters at Republic had voted to authorize a strike and were preparing to fight for good middle class jobs if forced into a labor dispute. Now that a tentative settlement has been reached, the workers say that they can get on with the business of hauling and processing trash, recycling materials and yard waste from thousands of homes and businesses across King and Snohomish counties.

Members offered words of solidarity for over 400 sanitation workers at Waste Management, whose contract with the company expired at midnight on March 31. “We stand united with our brothers and sisters in their fight for a fair contract,” said Rick Neapherlin, a container driver for Allied Waste in Bellevue. “We will do everything we can to support them.”

Local 117 members at Waste Management whose contract does not expire until 2012 said they would fully support a strike and honor all picket lines should the Local 174 drivers are forced into a labor dispute.

Now that both CleanScapes and Republic have negotiated settlements with the Union, Waste Management stands alone, as Hicks put it, “clinging to a substandard proposal that undermines good middle class jobs and continues to threaten the safety of our communities.”

Flight Options Pilots Ratify First Labor Agreement

International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Airline Division, Local 1108 and Flight Options, LLC, the Cleveland-based provider of luxury business jet fractional ownership and jet card programs, announced that pilots have ratified a first labor agreement on March 31, 2010. 

“This was a significant milestone for Flight Options.  Since our inception, our flight crews have been the cornerstone of our operation,” stated Kenn Ricci, Chairman of Flight Options. “The new agreement further solidifies Flight Options’ position as a premier employer of pilots and ensures the long term success of our company.”  

“The new contract with Flight Options is the basis for a strong labor-management partnership between the Teamsters and Flight Options, LLC,” said Captain David Bourne, Teamsters Airline Division Director.  “A first contract that works for pilots and their families, as well as management and Flight Options customers, is a great achievement for the entire industry.”  

After more than three years of negotiations, the Teamsters reached a tentative agreement with Flight Options, LLC management on January 28, 2010.  Ballots were counted in Cleveland, Ohio on March 31, 2010.  The agreement was ratified by 88 percent of the union’s membership.  

“This contract would not be possible without the collective effort of the entire organization,” said Michael Silvestro, CEO.  “I am particularly proud of the fact that we are able to make a significant financial commitment to our pilots even in this difficult economic environment.”  

The parties will convene in mid-April for an official contract signing ceremony.  The new agreement provides for an immediate salary increase, longevity increases, additional paid time off, job security protections, an expansive basing system, and a grievance and arbitration process.  

“This contract is the product of thousands of hours of work and a joint commitment to the success of our pilots and the company,” said Capt. Mat Slinghoff, President of Teamsters Local 1108.  “The pilots I represent have achieved a milestone and they look forward to playing an active role in the company’s future success.” 

CAL Labor Unions Meet, Pledge Joint Cooperation

The leadership of Continental’s three main unions, Teamsters Airline Division, I.A.M and ALPA, met this week to discuss concerns each group is facing in their negotiations and how they can work cooperatively to support each other’s goals in contract talks. In a joint letter to their members, signed by each of the leaders, they said:  

“…Today, we came together to discuss our goals, listen to the issues that face each of our respective members and learn about the areas where we can work cooperatively. Among the topics discussed were the cockpit/cabin jumpseats, negotiating progress and timing within each of our groups, management composition at Continental and a new initiative to resolve personnel issues within the union structure and away from management. This meeting was an important step towards what will become a dedicated effort to share information and provide mutual support for each other as unionized employees of Continental Airlines…”  

The groups have agreed to a timetable of regular meetings and communications to their respective memberships as well. “In today’s operating environment of alliances, joint ventures and other new ways of conducting business, it is important for us as labor to form our own coalitions and relationships,” they said.”We will be better positioned to advance our interests, both individually and collectively, by comparing ideas, showing support for fellow work groups and coordinating our efforts…Thus, we hereby pledge our mutual support for the benefit of Continental Airlines employees represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. We look forward to a productive and rewarding relationship,” they concluded.   

Cape Air Leadership Meets With Caribbean Crews

In a move well timed to escape the waning ravages of this year’s winter season, the leadership of Cape Air was joined by Airline Division representatives John Herron and Traey Liggett as they met late last week with the Caribbean based crews of the carrier; who recently rejoined the union after a re-vote ordered by the NMB.  

Acting President Marilyn Rhude and Secretary Kim Mazzolini met with the crews and their families for two days, answering questions and providing information about the status of the negotiations and the structuring of the leadership and committees. They also spoke about the status of the membership drive, explaining the benefits of membership. “Kim and I were very happy to have a chance to meet with old friends that we had not seen for awhile, as our base structure is so diverse,” said Captain Rhude. “We had a great response and we’re looking forward to getting to our other bases as soon as time allows.”  

ExpressJet Negotiations Resume  

Negotiations for ExpressJet resumed on March 23^rd with a visit from interim CEO Pat Kelly.  The committee received an update on the search for a new CEO and a brief presentation on the company’s current financial status and plan for the year. Discussions continued on Article 18, (Overtime), and the group beginning discussions on Articles 10, (Leaves of Absence) and 14, (Safety and Health); with a tentative agreement on Article 14 achieved at week’s end.  

Negotiations are scheduled to resume on April 14^th.  

Horizon Mechanics Discussions Continue  

The Teamsters and the company met for continued negotiations at the Embassy Suites, in Portland, Oregon the week of March 23^rd. In opening remarks, the company informed the union that they continue to search for an outside vendor to perform Q400 C checks. The search has been narrowed to two vendors; however, the company has not made a final decision to outsource the maintenance. No agreements have been made, and the company will continue to discuss this issue with the IBT.    

Week In Review News Items  

Labor Developments  

A strike by British Airways cabin crew <a title="http://ibt.convio.net/site/R?i=wbUWrPRB_tvpk11TNzsEKg..
http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE62S1BR20100329″ href=”http://ibt.convio.net/site/R?i=wbUWrPRB_tvpk11TNzsEKg..”>entered its third day on Monday, with more walkouts threatened for next month, as separate talks to avert the first national rail strike in 16 years got under way…IBT, which has a membership of about 1.4 million, <a title="http://ibt.convio.net/site/R?i=Ex2CVdn2f8Xp_aXsS8r3nA..
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9EOCLV00.htm” href=”http://ibt.convio.net/site/R?i=Ex2CVdn2f8Xp_aXsS8r3nA..”>spent $285,000 lobbying the federal government in the fourth quarter, according to a disclosure report. That’s down from $309,000 spent in the third quarter of last year and $373,000 spent in the fourth quarter of 2008.   

Regulatory & Safety  

Qantas Airways was on Thursday investigating an incident in which an Airbus A380 <a title="http://ibt.convio.net/site/R?i=vaMY-0m31PkGgFSHzep0Lg..
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5h7YKivRU02ngte4T87qY1l5urGsQ” href=”http://ibt.convio.net/site/R?i=vaMY-0m31PkGgFSHzep0Lg..”>damaged tires on landing in Sydney, showering sparks and scaring passengers…a United Airlines Boeing 777 jet bound for Beijing <a title="http://ibt.convio.net/site/R?i=cUC0TDGXhYPYxZLs5WNH6g..
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-0331-near-miss–20100330,0,5611805.story” href=”http://ibt.convio.net/site/R?i=cUC0TDGXhYPYxZLs5WNH6g..”>narrowly missed a small plane in midair shortly after it took off Saturday morning from SFO…thousands of jets landing and taking off in Detroit <a title="http://ibt.convio.net/site/R?i=Fx6TU73FqiE2twYCZJIaSw..
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2010-04-01-airtraffic_N.htm?csp=usat.me” href=”http://ibt.convio.net/site/R?i=Fx6TU73FqiE2twYCZJIaSw..”>were assigned dangerous flight paths during at least six months in 2007 despite repeated warnings from air-traffic controllers that the operation violated federal rules…and next week Southwest Airlines <a title="http://ibt.convio.net/site/R?i=DSk1En65AQ2P7gCNz1TVTg..
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303338304575155813404043090.html?mod=googlenews_wsj” href=”http://ibt.convio.net/site/R?i=DSk1En65AQ2P7gCNz1TVTg..”>changes the way it flies, a major milestone in the push to modernize the nation’s air travel system. On April 6, the airline will change out the cockpit software in two-thirds of its fleet; giving pilot’s different instruments and a new look to displays. The radical upgrade will enable Southwest to fly precise satellite-based navigation approaches to airports.  

Airline Industry Finances & Structure

The global economic downturn <a title="http://ibt.convio.net/site/R?i=jDLz8PJoyyBw34K5S4zJ8g..
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2010-03-29-airline-passengers-revenue-decline_N.htm” href=”http://ibt.convio.net/site/R?i=jDLz8PJoyyBw34K5S4zJ8g..”>took 68.6 million scheduled airline passengers out of the USA’s skies over the last two years…however, airlines are <a title="http://ibt.convio.net/site/R?i=o5Slj8fU7zj96N0JxenXgw..
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international-business/Airlines-climbing-out-of-recession-IATA/articleshow/5742884.cms” href=”http://ibt.convio.net/site/R?i=o5Slj8fU7zj96N0JxenXgw..”>climbing out of recession with further strong increases for passenger travel and freight in February, industry association IATA said on Tuesday. One sign of recovery was record capacity usage for passenger travel in February; traditionally the weakest month for air travel…American Airlines is <a title="http://ibt.convio.net/site/R?i=84rcdHUFfcPxGGeKR1mdRw..
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2010-04-01-nyairwars01_ST_N.htm” href=”http://ibt.convio.net/site/R?i=84rcdHUFfcPxGGeKR1mdRw..”>turning up the heat in an escalating battle in New York City, the USA’s largest air-travel market. American on Wednesday announced 23 new flights, terminal refurbishments at LGA and JFK airports, a joint marketing and advertising partnership with New York’s tourism promotion arm and a new flying partnership with JetBlue. The newly emerging regional airline model is <a title="http://ibt.convio.net/site/R?i=I8z_X-u4c4XK-jv05bOzcg..
http://www.centreforaviation.com/news/2010/03/31/republic-airways-relationships-gaining-complexity/page1″ href=”http://ibt.convio.net/site/R?i=I8z_X-u4c4XK-jv05bOzcg..”>gaining more complexity as holding companies that try to build brands start to compete with their regional-capacity purchase partners. That is what is being played out, with as yet unknown consequences, between Delta and Republic…and two of the nation’s busiest airports are again becoming a <a title="http://ibt.convio.net/site/R?i=tpXYUsGkbo12FeSpjPY_jw..
http://www.travelweekly.com/article3_ektid212008.aspx” href=”http://ibt.convio.net/site/R?i=tpXYUsGkbo12FeSpjPY_jw..”>battleground between airlines and the FAA — and the scene of some unlikely airline pairings. The real issue, again, is whether the FAA or DOT has any legal bearing over domestic competitive matters concerning U.S. airlines.  

Miscellaneous  

New York-area flights make up 12 percent of operations at the 35 largest airports while <a title="http://ibt.convio.net/site/R?i=8ckHb8z3HvU0WSBxJELl6w..
http://www.northjersey.com/news/business/89577872_Long_plane_delays_chronic_in_region.html” href=”http://ibt.convio.net/site/R?i=8ckHb8z3HvU0WSBxJELl6w..”>accounting for almost half the delays, according to the Air Transport Association. All but eight of the most-delayed flights involved regional carriers such as Delta’s Comair unit and Continental partner ExpressJet…TSA nominee Maj. Gen. Robert Harding <a title="http://ibt.convio.net/site/R?i=3Dy27rigP259fbFa3J_k0w..
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2010-03-28-tsa_N.htm?csp=usat.me” href=”http://ibt.convio.net/site/R?i=3Dy27rigP259fbFa3J_k0w..”>told senators last week that he hoped to quickly transform aviation security by having screeners interact more with airline passengers and moving "closer to an Israeli model." That change will not likely happen any time soon because Harding withdrew Friday as President Obama’s nominee for TSA administrator…and the perception persists among many passengers that a commercial airline accident <a title="http://ibt.convio.net/site/R?i=C08BUodDVxIC7BSgpy6L0A..
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/columnist/mcgee/2010-03-31-airplane-seatbelt-airbags_N.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+UsatodaycomTravel-OTRW-McGee+(Travel+-+On+the+Road+with+-+McGee)&utm_content=Netvibes” href=”http://ibt.convio.net/site/R?i=C08BUodDVxIC7BSgpy6L0A..”>is all or nothing — either disaster is averted or everyone succumbs. And while many aviation professionals have long known that surviving an accident is not only possible but increasingly likely, educating the public remains a serious challenge.   

More News  

For additional news on Airline Division carriers and the airline industry, visit our constantly updated dashboard at <a title="http://ibt.convio.net/site/R?i=-B9VYgVOyvDpYOytGtIzeg..
http://netvibes.twi.bz/e” href=”http://ibt.convio.net/site/R?i=-B9VYgVOyvDpYOytGtIzeg..”>http://netvibes.twi.bz/e. 

The Airline Division and International Brotherhood of Teamsters offices will be closed on Friday, April 2, 2010 and reopen Monday April 4, 2010. We wish our members and readers a Happy Passover and a Happy Easter.  

Edited By Business Travel Coalition