TEAMSTERS LOCAL 700CITY OF CHICAGO MEMBER NEWSLETTER

TEAMSTERS LOCAL 700 1300 W. Higgins Rd., Suite 301, Park Ridge, IL 60068 847-939-9700

TEAMSTERS LOCAL 700 Over the past two years, our union has been at the forefront of fighting legislation that threatened to sharply reduce pension benefits for city workers and retirees. On March 24, the City of Chicago’s plan to cut pensions from city workers and retirees was deemed unconstitutional by the Illinois Supreme Court. The court’s decision upheld a previous ruling by the Cook County Circuit Court in favor of Local 700 and our members, saying the law violated a clause of the Illinois constitution that guarantees pension benefits cannot be diminished.

Teamsters Local 700 was one of only four unions with membership jurisdiction in the City of Chicago that filed suit against the city to overturn the pension law. In early 2014, the membership voted to contribute $1 per month, per member as a special assessment to help us fight the city’s pension reform laws.

“This is a huge and historical win for all of us, including our city retirees and their families,” said Becky Strzechowski, Teamsters Local 700 President. “You should not have to bear the burden of losing your valuable retirement benefits that you deserve because of the city’s mismanagement of resources. We remain committed to protecting your rights and pension benefits that you have worked so hard to earn. On behalf of the entire Local 700 Executive Board and staff, I thank all of you for joining us in fighting the unjust pension law and finally having this victory come to fruition.”

Teamsters Local 700 Instrumental in Leading the Fight Against City Pension Law

STORY CONTINUES, SEE “PENSION” ON NEXT PAGE

IN THIS ISSUE...

The Teamsters coordinate President Obama’sarrival into O’Hare with Secret Service staff, P. 3

A Streets and Sanitation member gets recognized by the Commissioner, P. 4

APRIL 2016

CITY OF CHICAGO MEMBER NEWSLETTER APRIL 2016

BECKY STRZECHOWSKIPresident

MICHAEL G. MELONESecretary-Treasurer

Aimed at raising pension contribution rates of Chicago municipal employees and laborers, city officials introduced Senate Bill 1922 (SB 1922) in early 2014. The bill was passed and was signed into law by the governor on June 9, 2014.

Local 700, along with AFSCME Council 31, the Chicago Teachers Union and the Illinois Nurses Association, formed a coalition in November 2014 to fight against the city’s plan to cut pensions. On Dec. 16, 2014, the coalition filed suit to overturn the pension law, claiming the city violated the state constitution’s pension protection clause. Local 700

members were named as some of the plaintiffs in the case. On Jan. 1, 2015, the SB 1922 pension law went into effect for city members that participated in the Municipal Employees Annuity and Benefit Fund (MEABF) before it was found unconstitutional by the circuit court in July 2015. The city appealed and on Nov. 17, 2015, the case spurred by Local 700 and the other unions went before the Illinois Supreme Court. On March 24, 2016, the Illinois Supreme Court released their ruling, finding the city pension law unconstitutional.

PENSION TIMELINE: HOW TEAMSTERS LOCAL 700 WON THE FIGHT

JUNE 9, 2014 SB 1922

signed intolaw

DEC. 16, 2014 Local 700 and

three unions file suit

JAN. 1, 2015 SB 1922 goes into effect for city members

JULY 24, 2015 Circuit Courtfound the law

unconstitutional

NOV. 17, 2015 The case went before the IL

Supreme Court

MARCH 24, 2016 IL Supreme

Court finds law unconstitutional

PENSION continued

(From left to right): Rick Carbonaro, Paris Morales and John Sciaraffa after their shift.

Pete Gianola and his wife in Disney World.

Show yours! E-mail photos to info@teamsterslocal700.comSUNNYSIDE YARD MEMBERS SHOW THEIR TEAMSTER PRIDE

Ralph Amelio’s daughter in Washington, D.C.

CITY OF CHICAGO MEMBER NEWSLETTER APRIL 2016

Whenever our Commander in Chief flies into Chicago, he is greeted by a select group of Teamsters Local 700 aviation members at O’Hare airport. Led by foremen Hector Tellado, Jr., John Locelso and Nick Lamonica, Local 700 members coordinate all of the logistics of the President’s arrival and departure with his staff and the Secret Service. Air dispatch, Pool Motor Truck Drivers and the support staff all play an integral role in carefully planning and executing each presidential visit. Tellado is the support staff supervisor and has been a Teamster for 24 years, of which the last 18 have been at

O’Hare. The Motor Truck Drivers that he assigns to the Secret Service detail are the only workers that are authorized to get within close proximity of the President’s aircraft.

“Not everyone gets to work hand in hand with the secret service,” said Tellado. “Myself and the other Teamsters that get to work this detail feel privileged and honored and there is always a sense of excitement when the President is on his way.”

Part of the aviation support staff ’s duty is to escort all personnel to and from the aircraft, which also includes performing runway sweeps. The aviation drivers each take two Secret Service agents and travel up and down the runway making sure it is safe to land the aircraft, searching

for any kind of objects or activity that would be considered a threat to the President. The team also drives up a set of stairs to the President’s

aircraft and makes sure everyone gets on and off the plane safely.

The President was most recently welcomed by the Teamsters at O’Hare on April 7 when he came to Chicago to speak at the University of Chicago Law School about the Republican opposition to Judge Merrick B. Garland, his Supreme Court nominee. Tellado selected 15 support staff members to work the special detail for that visit and said everyone worked extra hours and starts and ends the shift together.

“This is not a single day event,” said Tellado. “We are all prescreened through the Secret Service with background checks well before we are allowed to be on the runway with the President.”

“I am so proud that our members are on the front lines to welcome President Obama when he comes to Chicago,” said Becky Strzechowski, Teamsters Local 700 President. “To our members that work this very special and honorable detail, I can’t thank you enough for working so hard to serve and protect our President and being the example of what it means to be a Teamster.”

Teamsters Local 700 Members Welcome Air Force One at O’Hare

President Obama lands in Chicago. (Photo taken by Tellado)

Teamsters selected to work Obama’s detail. (Photo taken by Tellado)

City of Chicago members were invited to be the pilot group for the recently launched Local 700 text message program. For those of you that have signed up, we hope you have enjoyed the service. If you still need to sign up, please visit the homepage of TeamstersLocal700.com to download a “Consent to Receive Communications” form and return it to the union office so we can add you to the group. You can drop it off, mail it in, fax it to 847-518-6495 or e-mail it to info@teamsterslocal700.com.

Sign up to Receive Texts From Local 700

CITY OF CHICAGO MEMBER NEWSLETTER APRIL 2016

Teamsters Local 700 recently won a grievance against the Department of Streets and Sanitation after nine Pool Motor Truck Drivers (PMTD) were sent home without pay for having expired medical Department of Transportation (DOT) cards. Each affected two-hour driver will receive backpay and be made whole for the time they were not allowed to work.

Teamsters Local 700 filed a grievance on behalf of the nine drivers after they reported being sent home without pay during the month of January. Representatives from Local 700 met with the city and both parties agreed that the drivers should not have been sent home, but instead, should have been given more time to renew their medical DOT cards.

All City of Chicago MTDs are required to have a current medical DOT card when they are working. The DOT card is issued upon a physical examination by a doctor and provides proof that the driver meets the medical requirements to hold a CDL.

“Teamsters Local 700 demanded that the city not only give our members adequate time to renew their medical cards to uphold their driving eligibility, but to also grant those members backpay for the hours they weren’t permitted to work due to this avoidable situation,” said Becky Strzechowski, Local 700 President.

The affected drivers can expect the backpay in the upcoming weeks.

Teamsters Local 700 Secures Backpay Award for Multiple City of Chicago PMTDs

Teamsters Local 700 member Joseph Lowery was recognized by the City of Chicago’s Streets and Sanitation Department for his hard work and professionalism that he provided during a recent residential cleanup.

Joseph has been a Motor Truck Driver for the city for nearly 14 years and is currently based out of the forestry location at 103rd Street. He was sent on a job earlier this year to remove backyard debris, including tree branches and stubs, for Ella White, a resident of the 8th Ward in Chicago.

After the work was completed, White wrote a letter to Commissioner Charles Williams that she was amazed at how courteous, skilled and friendly Joseph was. White wrote in a letter, “I want to say thank you again for an amazing job and for helping a senior homeowner.”

Williams presented Joseph with an award last month, describing him as a “shining example for all” and applauded him for his hard work and dedication to the community. “Getting recognized in this manner means a lot to me and my family,” said Joseph. “I was excited to receive this award and it really makes me proud of the job I do.”

“City jobs can be tough and dirty, and Joseph approached his job with sophistication and kindness,” said Becky Strzechowski, Local 700 President. “On behalf of the Teamsters Local 700 Executive Board, I commend Joseph for doing such great work for the city and its residents.”

Joseph Lowery Recognized by Commissioner for Outstanding Service

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